Yamazakura Whisky – The hidden gem from northern Japan

The Yamazakura whisky brand is rooted in a centuries-old tradition dating back to 1765, when the company Sasanokawa Shuzo was founded as a sake brewery in Koriyama, Fukushima Prefecture . This makes it one of Japan’s oldest spirits producers. It was not until almost 200 years later, in 1946, that the company, under the leadership of the eighth head of the family, Tetsuzo Yamaguchi, was granted a licence to produce whisky and began production .

The name ‘Yamazakura’ pays homage to nature and is composed of the Japanese words for ‘mountain’ (Yama) and ‘cherry blossom’ (Sakura). It symbolises the combination of strength and fleeting beauty, which also characterises the whiskies.

A decisive turning point in the company’s history was the reopening of its in-house Asaka distillery in 2016, to mark the company’s 250th anniversary. Since then, this distillery has been dedicated exclusively to the production of 100 per cent Japanese whisky, which is distilled, matured and bottled on site. Pure spring water from the mountains of Fukushima is used in production, which is renowned for its minerality and smoothness and plays a key role in giving the whiskies their mellow character.

The Yamazakura range is diverse and includes blended whiskies, pure malts and single malts. The whiskies are matured in various casks, such as ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, whilst experimental maturations in Mizunara oak or with a Doppelbock cask finish are also employed. Particularly noteworthy is the Yamazakura Blended Whisky, which is regarded as an accessible and harmonious introduction to the world of Japanese whiskies. It impresses with aromas of vanilla, caramel, pear and honey and is often described as mild, smooth and fruity. The brand has built up an excellent reputation in recent years and has already won gold medals at the World Whiskies Awards with its limited editions.