Sasanokawa Shuzo Yamazakura 963 – 8 Years Old

Yamazakura 963 8 Years Old is a blended malt from Sasanokawa Shuzo in Fukushima prefecture, bottled at cask strength for the Belgian market. The 963 is a named sub-line within the Yamazakura range, a series that draws on Sasanokawa Shuzo's long relationship with the Fukushima region. The eight-year age statement positions this as a relatively young but fully committed expression within the line.

Matured in Ex-Bourbon casks, the 8 Years Old delivers vanilla and cereal sweetness as its foundation, but a characteristic coal-gas mineral note gives it a distinct and slightly wild edge that sets it apart from more conventional expressions. At 59% and without dilution, the character arrives with full clarity. The combination of young vitality, bourbon wood sweetness and mineral sharpness makes it an interesting and direct bottling from Fukushima.