Review of Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #003 from the Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan. This is the latest in a series of malts inspired by the five elements of the Japanese philosophy of “earth”.
The “Artist Edition” is a limited edition product inspired by the “Five Elements philosophy”, which is deeply rooted in the lives of Japanese people, such as the celebration of the five festivals, the four staves of sumo, New Year’s osechi cuisine, and five-colored beans. The label design is an original work of art created by a designer based on the concept of the five elements of “wood, fire, earth, metal, and water” by an artist active in various fields.
1. Manufacturer
Kanosuke Komasa Distillery Co.
| Establishment | August 2021 |
| Head office location | 845-3 Gannokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-2421 |
| Owned distillery | Kanosuke Distillery |
2. Distillery
Kanosuke Distillery
| Location | 845-3, Gannokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-2421 |
| Start of operation | 2017 |
The Kanosuke Distillery is located on a 9,000㎡ site along Fukiage Beach on the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture.
The U-shaped, two-story main building houses distilling facilities, a BAR with a great view, and a store selling original goods.
The main feature of the distillery is that it is equipped with three pot stills (large, medium, and small). Each has a capacity of 6,000 liters, 3,000 liters, and 1,600 liters, respectively.
Craft distilleries (small distilleries) around the world generally have two stills. Whisky is usually distilled twice, and by using pot stills with different shapes of necks and angles of line arms at the top during the second distillation (redistillation), the aroma and flavor of the original whiskey can be more richly changed.
Fukiage beach, where the distillery is located, is one of the “Three Great Sand Dunes of Japan” and has been selected as one of the “100 Best Sandy Beaches in Japan”. The beach stretches about 47 km from north to south, and strong winds blow in from the sea. The area is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, with temperatures near zero degrees Celsius, and snow flurries are not uncommon.
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For more information about the Kanosuke Distillery, please see this article.
3. Photos of the bottles and the website where you can purchase them
Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition#003
Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #003
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4. Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #003
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“Artist Edition #003”, the third edition, is based on the theme of the five elements of the five elements philosophy.It is made by combining the blender’s carefully selected sake from shochu litchi, bourbon, and red wine barrels that have been matured to the lullaby of the sea in a maturing cellar located on a small hill on the north side of the Kanosuke Distillery, post-aged in barrels where Amami brown sugar shochu was stored, and further delicately prepared with peat. It is a single malt Japanese whisky.The label was created by Yukihito Kanai, a dyer on Amami Oshima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture, who visited the Kanosuke Distillery and created the motif of the view of Fukiage beach overlooking the East China Sea.Reference: NEWS | Kanosuke Distillery (kanosuke.com)
4-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Pineapple, Japanese citrus, caramel, clove |
| Taste | Molasses, ginger, white pepper, tropical fruit acidity, a little saltiness |
| Aftertaste | Spicy sweetness lingers for a long time and slowly exits with a little smoke. |
4-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 50% |
| Distinction by alcohol | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Cask type | Shochu rich cask, bourbon, red wine, Amami brown sugar shochu cask |
| Content volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited quantity |
| Suggested retail price | 16,500 yen (tax included) |
| Release date | June 18, 2024 |
5. Awards
No awards received at this time.
6. Price
6-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product name | Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #003 |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 16,500 yen (including tax) |
6-2. Resale price on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is around 23,500 yen to 25,000 yen. (*As of June 19, 2024)
6-3. Sold price on Yahoo! Auctions
Sold prices on Yahoo! Auctions could not be confirmed. (*As of June 19, 2024)
6-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
Sales on mail-order sites could not be confirmed. (*As of June 19, 2024)
6-5. Price offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, 1 glass is offered at 45ml: 4,620 yen, 30ml: 3,080 yen, and 15ml: 1,540 yen.
7. Summary
■Please be sure to read other articles about Kanosuke Distillery.
Lastly: Recommended Books on Japanese Whisky
If you want to learn more about Japanese whisky, which is a global trend, we highly recommend these books.
(1).Whisky Galore Vol.29 December 2021 issue
In the December 2021 issue of Whisky Galore, published by the Whisky Culture Research Institute, we report on 11 Japanese craft distilleries, including some that are open to the public for the first time, under the title of “Japanese Whisky Craft Frontline,” the first of three consecutive issues. Why did the popularity of Japanese whisky and the craft boom occur? We will examine with interviews. Chichibu Distillery / Chichibu No.2 Distillery / Mars Shinshu Distillery / Mars Tsunuki Distillery / Kanosuke Distillery / Hioki Distillery / Ontake Distillery / Osuzuyama Distillery / Kaikyo Distillery / Hanyu Distillery / Konosu Distillery
(2). Japanese Whisky as an Education for Business
This is a book written by Mamoru Tsuchiya, a world-famous whisky critic and representative of the Whisky Culture Research Institute, titled “Japanese Whisky as a Culture that Works for Business” .
The book covers the basics of whisky, the introduction of whisky to Japan, the birth of Japanese whisky, advertising strategies and the rise of Japanese whisky, and the current rise of craft distilleries. This is a book that summarizes Japanese whisky in a very easy to understand way.
(3). Whisky and I (Masataka Taketsuru)
Masataka Taketsuru, the founder of Nikka Whisky, devoted his life to brewing whisky in Japan. This is a revised and reprinted version of the autobiography of a man who simply loved whisky and talked about himself. The book vividly depicts the days when he went to Scotland alone to study as a young man and overcame many hardships to complete Japanese whisky, as well as his companion, Rita.
(4). A Letter of Challenge from a New Generation Distillery
Launching in 2019. With the world experiencing an unprecedented whisky boom, what were the managers of craft distilleries thinking and what were their thoughts as they took on the challenge of making whisky? This book tells the stories of 13 craft distillery owners, including Ichiro Hido of Venture Whisky, famous for his Ichirose Malt, who inspired the birth of craft distilleries in Japan.
(5). Whiskey Rising
This is the Japanese version of Whisky Risng, published in the US in 2016, with much updated content. Not only does it describe the history of Japanese whisky in detail, but it also includes data on all the distilleries in Japan, including the craft distilleries that have been founded in recent years. The book also includes descriptions of the legendary bottles that have been released, as well as information on bars where Japanese whisky can be found.
