Saburomaru Distillery x Kanosuke Distillery First Collaboration: 'Saburomaru Ryuko' Release

Wakatsuru Sake Brewing / Saburomaru Distillery will release its first collaboration bottle with Kanosuke Distillery in Hioki, Kagoshima, titled 'Saburomaru Ryuko -DOUBLE DISTILLERY- SABUROMARU x KANOSUKE' on June 18, 2026, in limited quantities. This unique expression showcases the potential and diversity of Japanese craft whisky through a cask exchange between Saburomaru, with roots in sake brewing, and Kanosuke, rooted in shochu production, both of which began full-scale whisky production in 2017.

■Background of the Collaboration
Saburomaru is known for its rare, heavily peated style, establishing a strong presence with its smoky character. Meanwhile, Kanosuke creates whiskies characterized by a mellow, rich flavor nurtured in a warm climate with sea breezes.

Saburomaru was founded as a sake brewery in 1862, and Kanosuke as a shochu distillery in 1883. In 2017, fifth-generation president Takahiko Inagaki revitalized Saburomaru, while fourth-generation president Yoshitsugu Komasa began a new challenge in whisky production at Kanosuke. Their collaboration aims to create whiskies with distinct personalities that can compete on the world stage.

■The New Saburomaru 'Ryuko' Double Distillery Series
'Saburomaru Ryuko' is the first release in a new series focused on the global market. The label features a dragon and a tiger, traditionally depicted on separate folding screens, brought together in a single artwork to symbolize the fusion of two unique values.

■Product Overview
The whisky is a blend of Saburomaru's heavily peated malt, aged in bourbon and roasted casks, balanced with Kanosuke's non-peated, bourbon-aged malt.

Product Name: Saburomaru Ryuko -DOUBLE DISTILLERY- SABUROMARU x KANOSUKE
Category: Blended Malt Japanese Whisky
Alcohol Content: 50%
Volume: 700ml
Suggested Retail Price: 22,000 yen (including tax)
Release Date: June 18, 2026