Yamazakura Blended

What it is

An entry level blended whisky from Sasanokawa Shuzo in Koriyama, Fukushima, bottled at 40%. Yamazakura is the brand name, taken from the mountain cherry, and the range spans cheap everyday blends up to aged releases.

Where it comes from

Sasanokawa dates back to the 18th century as a sake and shochu producer and took out a whisky licence in 1946. Its enthusiast reputation rests partly on having sheltered Ichiro Akuto's Hanyu casks after that distillery closed, which is how the famous Card Series survived.

The provenance of the blends is another matter. Sasanokawa has historically used imported whisky in its blended range, and it doesn't publish a component breakdown. We haven't found a producer statement putting this bottling against the Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association standard. Treat it as undisclosed rather than assuming the Japanese branding settles it.

How it's made

Blended and bottled in Fukushima. The company built Asaka Distillery in 2016 specifically to make its own malt whisky properly, and Asaka-branded single malts are the releases where the distillate is unambiguously Sasanokawa's own. Cask detail for this blend isn't published.

What to expect

Light and simple. Cereal sweetness, a little vanilla and soft fruit, with a short finish. At 40% and at this price it's a mixing whisky and doesn't pretend to be more. Fine in a highball.

How it compares

Against Yamazakura 963 21 Year Old, that's the serious end of the same brand and a different proposition entirely. Against Asaka single malts, those are the ones distilled in house. Against Suntory Toki at a comparable price, Toki has published provenance and more depth. If you're interested in Sasanokawa, the Asaka releases are where the story actually is.