Review of Kanosuke Distillery’s 2024 Limited Edition. The HIOKI POT STILL LIMITED EDITION is made with original sake from the Hioki Distillery.
Kanosuke’s Limited Edition series has continued since 2021.
Until 2023, all of them were from the Kanosuke distillery, but this year, the fifth edition, is released from the HIOKI POT STILL at the Hioki Distillery.
HIOKI POT STILL is a grain whiskey among the three types of whiskies in the Kanosuke year-round product lineup, Single Malt Kanosuke, Kanosuke HIOKI POT STILL, and Kanosuke Double Distillery, and is said to have a taste that is distinct from this year-round product.
1. Photo of the bottle and label
KANOSUKE HIOKI POT STILL LIMITED EDITION 2024
KANOSUKE HIOKI POT STILL LIMITED EDITION 2024
2. Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still Limited Edition 2024
This Japanese-style pot still whiskey is made from barley and malt, produced in a unique process at the Hioki Distillery, and stored in the Kanosuke Distillery aging room. It is made by batting the original whiskey stored in new American white oak barrels, bourbon barrels, and shochu litchi barrels.Enjoy the aromas of crème brûlée and fresh oak, and the harmony of sweetness and bitterness, such as vanilla and caramel sauce.[Tasting notes]
Colour: Amber
Nose: Creme Brulee, fresh oak, apricot, green plum
Taste: vanilla, caramel sauce, burnt oak, cocoa, matcha
Finish: oily, rich, mild bittersweet
2-1. Tasting Notes
| Aroma | Hazelnut, caramel pudding, plum, buttered toast, nutmeg |
| Taste | Florentine, green tea pound cake, high cocoa chocolate |
| Aftertaste | Oaky and fresh nutmeg-like spice, followed by a long sweet and bitter taste. |
2-2. Product Specifications
| Alcohol content | 55% alcohol by volume |
| By Alcoholic Beverage | Single Grain Whisky |
| Barrel type | Shochu litchi barrels, bourbon barrels, new American white oak barrels |
| Content volume | 700ml |
| Number of bottles sold | Limited quantity |
| Suggested Retail Price | 16,500 yen |
| Release date | October 11, 2024 |
3. Awards
No awards have been received at this time.
4. List price and online price
4-1. Manufacturer’s suggested retail price
| Product name | KANOSUKE HIOKI POT STILL LIMITED EDITION |
| Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested retail price | 16,500 yen (tax included) |
4-2. Resale price on Mercari
Resale prices on Mercari currently range from 15,500 yen to 17,300 yen. (*As of October 15, 2024)
4-3. Yahoo Auction Sold Price
The current bid price on Yahoo! Auctions was confirmed to be 16,500 yen. (*As of October 15, 2024)
4-4. Rakuten, Yahoo Shopping, Amazon
On Amazon and other online shopping sites, the price was confirmed to be around 17,000 yen . (*As of October 15, 2024)
4-5.Prices offered at BAR Shinkai
At “BAR Shinkai” operated by this site, we offer small quantities such as 45ml per glass: 4,620 yen, 30ml: 3,080 yen, 15ml: 1,540 yen, etc.
5. About the Kanosuke Hioki Distillery
Hioki Distillery
| Location | 3309 Hioki, Hiyoshi-cho, Hioki-shi, Kagoshima 899-3101 |
| Start of operation | 1883 * Whisky distilling will begin in 2020 |
Originally started from making sacred sake for 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, “Mellowed Kozuru” is used in single malt Kanosuke as a recharger, and the company has its own unique manufacturing process and proprietary know-how.
The distiller is a stainless steel straight vertical distiller used for shochu.
Image source: Kanosuke Distillery Official HP
The whiskey produced at Hioki is “grain whisky,” but it differs from the continuous distillation process normally used for grain whisky.
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.
6. Summary
The pudding and plum-like nuances are common in the aroma of Kanosuke’s products, but the rich sweet bitterness in both aroma and taste is more pronounced than in HIOKI POTSTILL, which is a year-round product. This may be why it has a taste like elegant baked sweets, and it is a flavor that truly sets it apart from the rest.
For past products of Kanosuke Distillery, 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.
