Yamazakura New Born – American Bourbon 1st Fill Cask No. 6226 represents the bold, youthful spirit of the Sasanokawa Shuzo distillery as it continues to refine its craft in modern Japanese whisky-making. Drawn from a single first-fill bourbon cask, this expression showcases the raw, vibrant character of new whisky while highlighting the precision and care that defines Japanese distilling. It offers enthusiasts a rare look into the early development stage of Yamazakura’s spirit, capturing purity, freshness, and authentic cask influence.

Yamazakura New Born – American Bourbon 1st Fill, Cask No. 6226 70cl
Brand: Yamazakura | Category: Japanese Whisky | ABV: 61% | Origin: Japan | Vol: 70cl

Tasting Profile:
Nose: Bright vanilla, fresh-cut oak, coconut shavings, and hints of unripe banana and citrus zest.
Palate: Intense bourbon-cask sweetness with caramel, toasted oak, corn sweetness, white pepper spice, and young grain character.
Finish: Long and warm with lingering vanilla, spice, and fragrant wood.

Production Details:
Distilled and matured at Sasanokawa Shuzo, this whisky comes from a single first-fill American bourbon cask selected for its strong vanilla and oak influence. Bottled at high proof to retain full intensity and natural texture, capturing the youthful vibrancy of a New Born expression. Produced in extremely limited quantities, making each cask bottling unique and highly collectible.

Perfect For:
Collectors searching for rare Japanese single-cask releases, whisky enthusiasts exploring developmental/new-make-style bottlings, or anyone wanting a bold, high-proof expression with strong bourbon-cask impact.

Expert Notes:
Celebrated for its clarity of cask influence and raw, honest character. Recognized as a fascinating look at Yamazakura spirit before full maturation, offering depth and power unusual for such a young whisky.

Customer Reviews:
“A powerful young Japanese whisky with beautiful bourbon sweetness.”
“Incredibly intense, full of vanilla and fresh oak.”
“A must-try for fans of high-proof, cask-driven expressions.”

Interesting Fact:
New Born whiskies allow enthusiasts to experience the distillery’s future flavor profile years before it matures into a standard release. First-fill bourbon casks impart the strongest wood influence, giving the whisky rapid development and robust vanilla, spice, and caramel notes.

Serving Suggestions:
Best enjoyed neat if you want the full cask-strength intensity, offering a raw yet flavorful experience. Adding a few drops of water reveals more sweetness, softens the spice, and opens up layers of fruit and vanilla, making it more approachable for slower sipping.

Distillery Background:
Sasanokawa Shuzo, founded in 1765, originally specialized in sake and shochu production before expanding into whisky distillation. Over the years, the company has gained recognition for its craftsmanship, dedication to quality, and ability to blend traditional Japanese techniques with modern whisky innovation. The Yamazakura brand has become increasingly respected worldwide, known for its small-batch releases, unique cask selections, and growing influence in the Japanese whisky landscape.