A review of the Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #005 from the Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture. This is the latest and final release in a series inspired by the element of “Water” in the Five Elements philosophy.
The “Artist Edition” is a limited-edition white spirit from the Kanosuke Distillery, inspired by the “Five Elements” philosophy—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water. This philosophy is deeply rooted in everyday Japanese life and is reflected in the Five Seasons Festival, the four sumo stables, New Year’s osechi dishes, and the Festival of the Five-Colored Beans.
The label designs are original works created by artists active in various fields, each themed around one of the “Five Elements.” Each of the five bottles expresses the unique character of its respective element.
1. Bottle photos and labels
Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #005 “Water”
Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #005 SUI 
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2. Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #005 “Water”
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Starting Wednesday, June 10, we will release “Sui,” the fifth and final installment of the limited-edition “Kanosuke Single Malt Artist Edition” series—inspired by the Five Elements philosophy—exclusively at authorized liquor retailers.
The “Artist Edition” is a special series that takes the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water—rooted in Japanese culture as its theme, expressing each element through the power of art.
For this final installment, artist Alexander Kori Girard created an original label design centered on “Water,” the element that symbolizes life. Through his recent exploration of “stillness and movement” in watercolor, he captures the gentle flow of water and the quiet vitality that lies within it.
For this release, we have luxuriously selected three rare types of Mizunara oak cask-aged spirit as the key malt.By layering unpeated and peated spirits on top of this base, we have crafted a complex flavor profile where an elegant aroma reminiscent of sandalwood, a rich sweet-and-sour note like kumquat jam, and a gently unfurling smokiness harmonize.KANOSUKE’s signature sweetness is layered with Eastern nuances and a long finish.Please enjoy to your heart’s content this deep, layered flavor—as quiet yet as certain as the cycle of life, much like the “water” of “winter,” the season symbolizing the “Water” element in the Five Elements theory.
TASTING NOTE
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Quince candy, crisp European pear, kelp tea, ink |
| Taste | Apricot jam, peach compote, ginger candy, nutmeg |
| Finish | A long-lasting bitterness reminiscent of citrus peel and a sweet, smoky aroma |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol Content | 50% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese whishy |
| Cask Type | A blend of diverse base spirits, featuring rare base spirits aged in three types of Mizunara oak barrels as the key malt, along with unpeated and peated malt whiskies |
| Content Capacity | 700 ml |
| Number of Bottles Available | Limited Quantity |
| Suggested Retail Price | 16,500 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | June 16, 2026 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received to date.
4. Price
4-1. Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price
| Product Name | Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #005 |
| Content Capacity | 700 ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 16,500 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale Price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari included listings at the list price. (*As of June 18, 2026)
4-3. Winning Bid Prices on Yahoo! Auctions
We were unable to confirm prices on Yahoo! Auctions. Items were sold for around the list price. (As of June 18, 2026)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo! Shopping, and Amazon
The product is also sold at the list price on these online shopping sites. (As of June 18, 2026)
4-5. Prices at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai,” operated by this site , we serve 45ml for 4,620 yen, 30ml for 3,080 yen, and 15ml for 1,540 yen per glass.
5. Manufacturer
Komasa Kanosuke Distillery Co., Ltd.
| Established | August 2021 |
| Headquarters Address | 845-3 Kaminokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-City, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-2421 |
| Distilleries Owned | Kanosuke Distillery |
6. Distillery
Kanosuke Distillery
| Location | 845-3 Kaminokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-City, Kagoshima Prefecture 899-2421 |
| Start of Operations | 2017 |
The Kanosuke Distillery is located on a site of approximately 9,000 square meters along Fukiagehama Beach on the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture.
The U-shaped, two-story main building houses not only the distillation equipment but also a bar with a scenic view and a shop selling original merchandise.
A major feature of the distillery is that it is equipped with three pot stills—large, medium, and small. Their capacities are 6,000 L, 3,000 L, and 1,600 L, respectively.
Globally, it is common for craft distilleries (small-scale distilleries) to have only two pot stills.whishy is typically distilled twice, but by using pot stills with different neck shapes and angles of the upper line arm during the second distillation (redistillation), the aroma and flavor of the spirit can be enriched and varied.
Fukiagehama, where the distillery is located, is counted among the “Three Great Sand Dunes of Japan” and has been selected as one of the “100 Best Beaches in Japan.” The sandy beach stretches approximately 47 km from north to south, and strong winds sweep in from the sea, enveloping the entire distillery area in a pure white mist of fine sea spray.It is a region with significant temperature fluctuations, where summers are hot and winters can drop to around 0°C, with snowfall not uncommon.
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For more information on the Kanosuke Distillery, please see this article.
7. Summary
This is the final release in the Kanosuke Artist Edition series, crafted using barrels and unblended spirits unique to this limited edition.
True to its theme of “Water,” this bottle evokes a connection to the Mizunara oak.
Released once a year, this series has been running for approximately five years.
Centered on the soft, characteristic flavor profile of Kanosuke, each release has brought out the unique character of its cask while expressing the Five Elements—Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, and Water.
Another major attraction is the label design, created by a different artist each time, offering visual enjoyment as well as flavor.
Have there been any particularly memorable flavors or favorite art labels among the Artist Editions released so far? As you savor this final bottle in the series, we invite you to take a moment to look back on the series’ journey.
■ Please be sure to check out our other articles about Kanosuke as well.
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.
