About JWC
JWC is an abbreviation for Japanese Whiskey Cellar.
JWC is operated by Wakatsuru Saburomaru Distillery and T&T Toyama.
About Wakatsuru Saburomaru Distillery
The Only Whisky Distillery in the Hokuriku Region
Saburomaru Distillery is the only distillery in the Hokuriku region.
Since the foundation in 1952, we have passed down our original ingredients and techniques, making whisky today with the same passion carried on since the beginning.
With the great dream of creating whisky in the land of Toyama that will be loved by many people, we have built a history and grown into a distillery that can invites tourists to watch the production. Please come and visit us to taste the charm of our whisky with your five senses.
Special Quality Unique to Our Small Distillery
Saburomaru Distillery was built on the premises of Wakatsuru Shuzo that was established in 1862.
We have brewed Japanese sake in the winter and distilled whisky in the summer.
Because of this, the annual production is limited to about 25 barrels; but we have produced our original whisky using heavily peated malt having a long tradition.
Malt
Wakatsuru Shuzo uses malt produced in the U.K.
We make smoky whisky using only heavily peated malt (50 ppm) that has been used over many years. We use peat is used when drying the malt.
Yeast
We use ale yeast (beer yeast) and whisky yeast for mixed fermentation,
This brings out fruity aromas using techniques unique to a sake brewery.
We are also developing Toyama Prefecture’s original whiskies through joint research of a locally discovered yeast with a university.
Water
Toyama Prefecture enjoys rich, beautiful nature and a great topographic variety with an altitude difference of 4,000 meters from the 3,000-meter-high Hida Mountains (a.k.a. Northern Alps), including the Tateyama mountain range, to the Toyama Bay with a water depth of more than 1,000 meters. The Shou River flows in the Tonami Plain located in the western area of the prefecture, which is a vast land with rich water where villages are scattered around. Wakatsuru Shuzo uses the subsoil water of this Shou River to brew whisky.
Saburomaru Distillery is located in the area of Saburomaru in Toyama Prefecture which is also derived.
The water of Shou River emits a source to the Eboshi Mountain, passes through Gokayama, a gigantic structure built, It is poured into Toyama bay, and deep underground, there is a flowing underwater flow polished by granite. Wakatsuru Breweries, based on the commitment of “good water would create good spirits". We use the subsoil water of this Shou River to brew whisky.
Barrels
In the old days when the brewery produced port wine, we purchased wine in barrels from Yamanashi Prefecture and used the emptied barrels to mature whisky. At present, we often use bourbon barrels and also sherry bat, red wine cask, and various other types of barrels.
Takahiko Inagaki
Born in 1987. Born in Tonami City, Tomiwa Prefecture.
After working for an IT company in Tokyo, he returned to his parents' home and took over the whisky business started by his great-grandfather Kotaro Inagaki in 1952.
He took over the whiskey business started by Kotaro Inagaki, a great-grandfather.
Through crowdfunding, he renovated and rebuilt the Saburomaru distillery.
In 2019, he invented ZEMON, the world's first cast pot still.ZEMON is a brand-new pot still with the temple bell manufacturing technology of Takaoka’s copperware industry.
He is pursuing the creation of a whisky that is unique to Tomiyama.
・CEO Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd.
・Blender & Manager, Saburomaru Distillery
・Inventor of the world's first cast pot still ZEMON
・Japanese and English patents No. 6721917 and GB259021
・Final Round Judge, World Whisky Awards (WWA) 2022
About T&T Toyama
"T&T TOYAMA" is created by Takahiko Inagaki of Wakatsuru Sake Brewery and Saburomaru Distillery and Komei Shimono of Mortoyama.
This is a joint project launched with the desire to spread the charm of whiskey from Toyama Prefecture.
Modeled after the ideal Scottish long-established bottlers,
Take Inagaki Takahiko's T and Shimono Tadaaki's T
We named it "T&T TOYAMA".
Japanese whiskey bottlers business
Raw whiskey made by Japanese craft whiskey distillery, especially before aging
We purchased a new pot and built our own T&T in Inami, Nanto City, Toyama Prefecture.
The world's first full-fledged product, which is aged in special barrels procured by the company at TOYAMA Inami Aging Warehouse, determines the optimum timing, and is bottled at the peak of aging in a "single cask & cask strength". We operate a Japanese whiskey bottlers business.
Scotch Whiskey Bottlers Business
We select and import Scotch single malt whiskeys and sell them under our own brands, The Nymph and Wonder of Spirits, at Single Cask & Cask Strength.
Consulting service
T&T TOYAMA provides consulting services related to the operation of whiskey distilleries in Japan.
Inagaki and Shimono can provide comprehensive support from the establishment and start-up of a distillery to production, sales and marketing, and the provision of a cask management application.
As of February 2023, we are consulting for Hida Takayama Distillery in Gifu Prefecture and Gekkogawa Distillery in Yamagata Prefecture.
We can also consult with you regarding cooperation in the purchase of original sake and new pots.
Komei Shimono
Born in 1983. Born in Toyamacity, Toyama prefecture, Japan.
When he was a 20-year-old student, he discovered whisky at a bar in Utsunomiya, Tochigi Prefecture. His hobby led him to start "Mail order single malt shop Maltoyama in 2013. He has been selling mainly core single malts and private bottles ever since.
As of 2022, he has selected over 100 casks.
・President, Toyama Health and Vitality Center, Inc.
・Official Jury of TWSC 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
・Certified by the Institute of Whisky Culture
・Whisky Professional
・Whisky lecturer
This site was produced with the help of a grant.
Frontier Subsidy in FY 2021 (Date of acquisition: 20, October, 2022)