KANOSUKE DOUBLE DISTILLERY, a blended whiskey from the Kanosuke Distillery and Hioki Distillery by Kosho Kanosuke Distillery, is finally released.
1.What is Komasa Kanosuke Distillery?
1-1. Manufacturer
Yoshinosuke Komasa Distillery Co.
| Establishment | August 2021 |
| Head office | 845-3 Gannokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-2421 |
| Owned distillery | Kanosuke Distillery |
1-2.Kanosuke Distillery
Kanosuke Distillery
| Location | 845-3 Gannokawa, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-2421 |
| Start of operation | 2017 (the first year of operation) |
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The Kanosuke Distillery stands on a 9,000 m2 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. Whiskey 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. It is hot in the summer and cold in the winter, with temperatures near zero degrees Celsius, and snow flurries are not uncommon.
1-3. Hioki Distillery
Hioki Distillery
| Location | 3309 Hioki, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-3101 |
| Start of operation | 1883 |
Originally started out making sake for the Hioki-Hachiman Shrine and distilling authentic shochu. Today, the company manufactures and sells liqueurs, spirits, and whiskey. Its representative brand is the “Kozuru” series of potato shochu.
Among them, “Mellow Kozuru” has its own unique manufacturing process and proprietary know-how, such as being recharged and used in single malt Kanosuke.
The distiller is a stainless steel straight vertical distiller used for shochu.
Image Exhibit: Kanosuke Distillery Official HP
The whiskey produced at Hioki is “grain whiskey,” but it differs from the continuous distillation process normally used for grain whiskey.
At Hioki, whisky is distilled under reduced pressure in a single-stage distiller, which keeps the distillation rate low. This results in a strong whiskey that retains the flavor derived from the ingredients.
This is truly a “Japanese pot still” unique to the Komasa Shuzo brewery, which has a long history of shochu production.
2. photo of the bottle and the website where it can be purchased
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3. features of Kanosuke DOUBLE DISTILLERY
Quote: Kanosuke Distillery official website
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Kanosuke DOUBLE DISTILLERY is a blend of whiskies produced at two distilleries, Kanosuke Distillery and Hioki Distillery, blended and bottled in Hioki, Kagoshima, in a way that enhances the individuality of each whisky.
The barrel-aged shochu “Mellow Kozuru” was born from the challenge of the second generation of Komasa Brewery’s founder, Yoshinosuke Komasa. Enjoy this Japanese whiskey that is a fusion of the individuality of the craftsmen and the two brothers who have inherited their grandfather’s dream, long after its birth.
Tasting Notes
Color: TortoiseshellNose: Sweet vanilla, mint, lemongrass, apricot, melon, peach
Taste: Rich sweetness, clove, black tea, tangerine, Nikki
Finish: Moderately oaky, rich fruity aroma, soft and bitter aftertaste
Reference: Kanosuke DOUBLE DISTILLERY from Kosho Brewery | WHISKY,WORLD WHISKY,JAPANESE WHISKY,Kanosuke Distillery | THE ULTIMATE SPIRITS
3-1. product specifications
| Product name | Kanosuke DOUBLE DISTILLERY |
|---|---|
| Sake type | Blended Japanese whiskey |
| Ingredients | Kanosuke Distillery: Malt Hioki Distillery: Barley, Malt |
| Cask type | Shochu recharring cask, new American white oak barrels, bourbon barrels, etc. |
| Number of bottles sold | Number of bottles sold |
| Number of bottles sold | 53% (with a minimum of 2.5% alcohol by volume) |
| Suggested retail price | 14,300 yen (tax included) |
| Manufactured at | Kanosuke Distillery |
| Manufacturer | Komasa Kanosuke Distillery Co. |
3-2. tasting notes
| Aroma | Rich vanilla, menthol, fruit candy |
| Taste | Tortoiseshell candy, rustic sweetness and acidity of Japanese citrus, slight alcohol stimulation |
| Aftertaste | Sweetness and oak-derived aroma linger for a long time. |
4. awards
No awards have been received at this time.
5. list price and online price
5-1. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price (list price)
| Product name | Kanosuke DOUBLE DISTILLERY |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 14,300 yen (tax included) |
5-2. Resale price on Mercari
The resale price on Mercari is around20,000yen. (*As of 4/9/2024)
5-3. Yahoo Auction Sold Price
There are no confirmed successful bids on Yahoo! Auctions at this time. Listed price is about the same as the list price.
(*as of 9/14/2024)
5-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
The price is around 15,000 yen on mail order sites. (*As of 4/9/2024)
5-5.Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At BAR Shinkai, which is operated by this site, we offer small quantities such as 1 cup, 45ml: 3,960,yen 30ml: 2,640 yen, 15ml: 1,320 yen, etc.
6. summary
Finally, DD (DOUBLE DISTILLERY) from Kanosuke Distillery and Hioki Distillery has been released. It seems that the three products “Single Malt Kanosuke”, “Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still”, and “Kanosuke DD” will continue to be marketed as the core products.
Please check out our other articles on 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.
