Sasanokawa Shuzo Yamazakura 55 – Malt & Grain

Yamazakura 55 Malt and Grain is a blended whisky from Sasanokawa Shuzo in Fukushima prefecture, bottled in 2017 at cask strength for the Japanese domestic market. The name points directly to the composition, a blend of malt and grain components drawn from Ex-Bourbon casks, and the bottling strength of 55% gives the liquid impact without the softening effect of added water.

Ex-Bourbon maturation across both the malt and grain elements builds a consistent vanilla and cereal backbone, with the two components woven together rather than kept distinct. At this strength the result is direct and assertive, with the warmth of cask strength delivery carrying the wood influence forward on a long finish. A no-frills, honest statement from Sasanokawa Shuzo about what Japanese blended whisky can deliver at full concentration.