Newest Release in Saburomaru Single Malt Series: "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH" to be Launched
Wakatsuru Shuzo will release "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH," the latest addition to its Saburomaru Single Malt series, in limited quantities starting May 21st. This whisky features a powerful smokiness and sea breeze, made with super heavily peated malt from Islay.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 7, 2026 at 21:00
- 🔍 Collected: May 7, 2026 at 12:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 7, 2026 at 13:18 (46 min after Collected)
Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Saburomaru, Tonami City, Toyama Prefecture; Representative Director and President: Takahiko Inagaki) is pleased to announce the limited quantity release of "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH" (hereinafter "Saburomaru VIII"), the latest addition to the Saburomaru Single Malt series, starting May 21st (Thursday).
This is the 9th installment in the series, which began with "Saburomaru 0 THE FOOL" released in 2020, following "Saburomaru VII THE CHARIOT" (released in November 2025).
■ Regarding the launch of "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH"
Held by the mother sea,
Our souls drift on the waves.
In 2022, Saburomaru Distillery undertook mashing with super heavily peated malt from Islay. Islay peat has become increasingly difficult to obtain over the years, and persistent negotiations and trust built on sincerity have come to fruition.
The rich flavor, woven by a gentle sea breeze embracing a powerful smokiness, guides our souls, held by the mother sea and drifting on the waves, into profound depths.
Saburomaru Distillery, Takahiko Inagaki
■ Product Overview
Product Name: Single Malt "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH Standard Edition"
Alcohol Content: 48%
Volume: 700ml
Distillation Year: 2022
Ingredients: Malt (Super Heavily Islay Peated 80PPM)
Suggested Retail Price: 18,000 yen (19,800 yen including tax)
Bottling Quantity: 7,250 bottles
Sales Channels: Domestic, International
Product Name: Single Malt "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH Cask Strength"
Alcohol Content: 59%
Volume: 700ml
Distillation Year: 2022
Ingredients: Malt (Super Heavily Islay Peated 80PPM)
Suggested Retail Price: 26,400 yen (29,040 yen including tax)
Bottling Quantity: 1,600 bottles
Sales Channels: Domestic (company's online shop), International
Product Release Date: May 21, 2026 (Thursday)
● About the Design
The design is based on the Tarot cards (composed of 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana), specifically adopting the 9th Major Arcana, "STRENGTH."
Keywords: Acceptance, Sincerity, Control, Perseverance
Continuing from previous series, local paper-cutting artist Yukie Kano (from Himi City, Toyama Prefecture) created the paper-cutting for "STRENGTH," which has been adopted for the label design.
● Online Shop "Watashi to, ALC." Member-Exclusive Lottery Sale
A set of Single Malt "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH Standard Edition and Cask Strength" (one bottle each) will be sold by lottery exclusively for members of Wakatsuru Shuzo's online shop "Watashi to, ALC."
Please answer a quiz about Saburomaru Distillery, which has become a regular event, and apply.
Application Period: May 21, 2026 (Thursday) 12:00 PM (noon) - May 28, 2026 (Thursday) 11:59 PM
・Those wishing to purchase should complete member registration in advance.
・Current members who have their newsletter subscription setting to "Do not receive" are requested to change it to "Receive" from My Account to receive notification of winning or losing.
・Winners will be notified directly by email.
・Applications are limited to one per person.
Apply here ↓
https://shop.wakatsuru.co.jp/?pid=191695695
*The application page will be open from May 21, 2026 (Thursday) 12:00 PM (noon).
■ About Saburomaru Distillery
Saburomaru Distillery is the oldest whisky distillery in Hokuriku. Its parent company, Wakatsuru Shuzo, was founded in 1862 (Bunkyu 2). Whisky production began in 1952. In 2017, the 5th generation president, Takahiko Inagaki, carried out a large-scale renovation of the distillery, marking a new start. Saburomaru Distillery continues to challenge various innovations while inheriting the tradition as a whisky distillery in Toyama. Advocating "Rooted in the region, standing in the world," in 2019, it invented "ZEMON," the world's first cast-iron still utilizing the traditional industry of Takaoka copperware in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. Its mission is to create whiskies that can only be made in Toyama, such as using local Mizunara oak for barrels, and deliver them to the world.
This is the 9th installment in the series, which began with "Saburomaru 0 THE FOOL" released in 2020, following "Saburomaru VII THE CHARIOT" (released in November 2025).
■ Regarding the launch of "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH"
Held by the mother sea,
Our souls drift on the waves.
In 2022, Saburomaru Distillery undertook mashing with super heavily peated malt from Islay. Islay peat has become increasingly difficult to obtain over the years, and persistent negotiations and trust built on sincerity have come to fruition.
The rich flavor, woven by a gentle sea breeze embracing a powerful smokiness, guides our souls, held by the mother sea and drifting on the waves, into profound depths.
Saburomaru Distillery, Takahiko Inagaki
■ Product Overview
Product Name: Single Malt "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH Standard Edition"
Alcohol Content: 48%
Volume: 700ml
Distillation Year: 2022
Ingredients: Malt (Super Heavily Islay Peated 80PPM)
Suggested Retail Price: 18,000 yen (19,800 yen including tax)
Bottling Quantity: 7,250 bottles
Sales Channels: Domestic, International
Product Name: Single Malt "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH Cask Strength"
Alcohol Content: 59%
Volume: 700ml
Distillation Year: 2022
Ingredients: Malt (Super Heavily Islay Peated 80PPM)
Suggested Retail Price: 26,400 yen (29,040 yen including tax)
Bottling Quantity: 1,600 bottles
Sales Channels: Domestic (company's online shop), International
Product Release Date: May 21, 2026 (Thursday)
● About the Design
The design is based on the Tarot cards (composed of 22 Major Arcana and 56 Minor Arcana), specifically adopting the 9th Major Arcana, "STRENGTH."
Keywords: Acceptance, Sincerity, Control, Perseverance
Continuing from previous series, local paper-cutting artist Yukie Kano (from Himi City, Toyama Prefecture) created the paper-cutting for "STRENGTH," which has been adopted for the label design.
● Online Shop "Watashi to, ALC." Member-Exclusive Lottery Sale
A set of Single Malt "Saburomaru VIII STRENGTH Standard Edition and Cask Strength" (one bottle each) will be sold by lottery exclusively for members of Wakatsuru Shuzo's online shop "Watashi to, ALC."
Please answer a quiz about Saburomaru Distillery, which has become a regular event, and apply.
Application Period: May 21, 2026 (Thursday) 12:00 PM (noon) - May 28, 2026 (Thursday) 11:59 PM
・Those wishing to purchase should complete member registration in advance.
・Current members who have their newsletter subscription setting to "Do not receive" are requested to change it to "Receive" from My Account to receive notification of winning or losing.
・Winners will be notified directly by email.
・Applications are limited to one per person.
Apply here ↓
https://shop.wakatsuru.co.jp/?pid=191695695
*The application page will be open from May 21, 2026 (Thursday) 12:00 PM (noon).
■ About Saburomaru Distillery
Saburomaru Distillery is the oldest whisky distillery in Hokuriku. Its parent company, Wakatsuru Shuzo, was founded in 1862 (Bunkyu 2). Whisky production began in 1952. In 2017, the 5th generation president, Takahiko Inagaki, carried out a large-scale renovation of the distillery, marking a new start. Saburomaru Distillery continues to challenge various innovations while inheriting the tradition as a whisky distillery in Toyama. Advocating "Rooted in the region, standing in the world," in 2019, it invented "ZEMON," the world's first cast-iron still utilizing the traditional industry of Takaoka copperware in Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture. Its mission is to create whiskies that can only be made in Toyama, such as using local Mizunara oak for barrels, and deliver them to the world.