The annual release from Kanosuke Distillery’s Limited Series. This time, the limited edition “Double Distilleries” is now available. Reviewing its characteristics and taste.
１．Bottles and labels
Kanosuke Double Distilleries Limited Edition 2025
KANOSUKE Double Distilleries Limited Edition 2025 
２．Kanosuke Double Distilleries Limited Edition 2025 Features
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Shochu Richer Barrels Connecting the Evolution of Blending
KANOSUKE’s top product, DOUBLE DISTILLERY, is available in limited quantities.
A family tradition that has been passed down for 140 years. We have shed new light on the symbol of this tradition, the shochu litchi barrel.
DOUBLE DISTILLERY is a blended whisky that combines the original whisky from two distilleries, Kanosuke and Hioki, and the individuality of various casks.
In the 2025LIMITED EDITION, not only the malt base sake from the Kanosuke distillery, but also the pot still base sake from the Hioki distillery is aged in shochu litchi casks.
Shochu litchi barrels, such as those used for Japan’s first barrel-stored shochu “Mellow Kozuru,” are a key component of KANOSUKE’s unique flavor.
In this blend, the single malt base sake matured in sherry casks is further finished in shochu litchi casks and used as the key malt.
The addition of rum cask-aged base alcohol as an essence gives the aroma a three-dimensional quality.
Careful blending of these original wines brings out a rich, multi-layered mellow harmony and produces a deep taste enveloped in warm Japanese spices.
This new evolution of Japanese blended whisky is the story of the brothers who lead their respective distilleries, and is a challenging drink that carries on their grandfather’s dream and shochu tradition.TASTING NOTE
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２-１．Tasting Notes
| Fragrance | Plum jam, cream doughnuts, cinnamon rolls |
| Flavor | Peaches, salt crackers, marmalade jam toast |
| Afterglow | Sake spirit and saltiness appear strongly, and the savory and sweet flavors linger for a long time. |
２-２．Product Specs
| Alcohol content (usu. expressed per cent) | 59% |
| By Alcohol Type | Blended Japanese Whisky |
| Types of Barrels | Shochu Richter’s casks, sherry casks, rum casks, etc. |
| Quantity of content | ７００ｍｌ |
| Number of bottles sold | ー |
| MSRP | 18,700 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | September 25, 2024 |
３．Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
４．List price and online price
４-１．Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
| Trade (brand) name | KANOSUKE DOUBLE DISTILLERY 2025 LIMITED EDITION |
| Quantity of content | 700ml |
| MSRP | 18,700 yen (tax included) |
４-２．Resale prices on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is the same as the list price. (*As of 9/30/2025)
4-３．Yahoo Auction Sold Price
The bid price on Yahoo! Auctions was confirmed to be the list price. (*as of 9/30/2025)
４-４．Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
Amazon and other online retailers have confirmed that the product is available for sale at a fixed price. (*As of 9/30/2025)
４-５．Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At BAR Shinai, operated by this site, we offer small sizes such as 45ml for ¥4,950, 30ml for ¥3,300, and 15ml for ¥1,650.
５．About Kanosuke Distillery
The Kanosuke distillery began operations in 2017.
The distillery is located on a spacious site of approximately 9,000 m2 along Fukiage beach on the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture, with various facilities scattered throughout the site. The U-shaped, two-story main building houses distilling facilities, a bar with a great view, and a store selling original goods, allowing visitors to experience the whisky making process up close.
A major feature of the Kanosuke Distillery is that it has three pot stills (distillers). Each has a capacity of 6,000 L, 3,000 L, and 1,600 L. Worldwide, two pot stills are common for craft distilleries (small distilleries). whisky is usually distilled twice, and Kanosuke Distillery uses pot stills with different neck shapes and angles of the upper line arm during the second distillation (redistillation) to create different types of original whisky with varying aroma and flavor.
６．About Hioki Distillery
| Location | 3309 Hiyoshi-chou, Hioki-City, Kagoshima 899-3101 |
| Commencement of Operations | 1883 |
Originally, the company started out making sake for the Hioki Hachiman Shrine and distilling authentic shochu. Today, the company manufactures and sells liqueurs, spirits, and whisky. Its representative brand is the “Kozuru” series of potato shochu.
Among them, “mellow kozuru” is used in single malt Kanosuke as a litchar, which is a unique manufacturing method and original know-how. The inside of the barrels are re-charred and used again in the “Shochu Richer Barrel” used for the current Kanosuke whisky.
画像出展：嘉之助蒸溜所公式HP
whisky made in Hioki is “grain whisky,” but it differs from the continuous distillers normally used for grain whisky.
At Hioki, we use a single distiller to perform reduced-pressure distillation, which keeps the distillation rate low. This process results in a strong sake that retains the flavor derived from the raw ingredients.
A true Japanese pot still, unique to Komasa Shuzo, which has long been engaged in shochu production.
７．Finally.
Even though it is a standard product, the production volume of Kanosuke Distillery is not that large, so it may continue to be hard to find in stores.
It recalls Kanosuke’s 2023 Limited, which is Kanosuke’s sweet and salty peated.
Peated single malts priced around 10,000 yen are quite limited in Japan, so if you are interested in this one, please consider purchasing it!
For other Kanosuke products, please click here.↓
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.
