Yamazakura

Yamazakura is a brand of Japanese whisky from drinks company, Sasanokawa Shuzo. Located in the Tohoku region of Japan, Sasanokawa Shuzo is traditionally known for its sake and shochu, which it’s been producing since the mid-18th century. Whisky wasn’t added to the portfolio until 1946, when it was introduced by Tetsuzo Yamaguchi.

Yamazakura is named after ‘Yama’, meaning mountain, and ‘sakura’, meaning cherry trees. Blended and single malt expressions are available, although it is fairly unusual to see these on the UK market. 

The Yamazakura Blended Whisky combines malt and grain (corn). It has notes of caramel, vanilla and orchard fruit, with a subtle woody spiceness. They also offer a peated blend, which provides an atypically smokey take on Japanese whisky.