A limited-edition small batch from Kanosuke Distillery. Kanosuke IPA Cask Finish goes on sale April 1. Introducing this limited-edition product, which will not be available through general retail channels.
It will be available exclusively at THE SHOP within the Kanosuke Distillery and the Kanosuke Online Shop.
Although it goes on sale on April 1, it appears the online shop will begin sales on April 10.
1. Kanosuke Single Malt 2026 IPA Cask Finish
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A limited-edition small-batch release featuring Kanosuke Single Malt’s key malt, “Shochu Richer Cask Original Spirit,” finished in two types of Double IPA casks.
The aging barrels from these robust Double IPAs, bursting with hops, add a new dimension to KANOSUKE’s rich and complex character.
The contrasting characteristics of the two IPA casks used for the finish—one rich and full-bodied, the other light and crisp—impart honey and lime nuances to the deep, mellow profile.
Furthermore, a “Japanese” accent reminiscent of cinnamon from the shochu-enriched casks gently blends the sweetness with the hop-derived bitterness, creating a distinctive flavor profile.
The distinct characters of craft whisky and craft beer have blended together to create an entirely new taste experience.TASTING NOTE
Citrus dances. A harmony of crisp hops and sweet honey
2. Product Information
| Alcohol Content | 48% |
| Category | Single Malt Japanese Whisky |
| Barrel Type |
Finished in two types of Double IPA casks after aging the base spirit in shochu-infused casks |
| Content Capacity | 700ml |
| Suggested Retail Price | 11,550 yen (tax included) |
| Release Date | April 1, 2026 |
3. Kanosuke Distillery
Kanosuke Distillery began operations in 2017.
It is situated on a spacious 9,000-square-meter site along Fukiagehama on the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture, with various facilities scattered throughout the grounds. The main two-story U-shaped building houses not only the distillation equipment but also a bar with a great view and a shop stocked with original merchandise, making it a distillery where visitors can experience whisky-making up close.
A major feature of Kanosuke Distillery is its three pot stills. Their capacities are 6,000 liters, 3,000 liters, and 1,600 liters, respectively. Globally, it is common for craft distilleries (small-scale distilleries) to have only two pot stills.While whisky is typically distilled twice, at the Kanosuke Distillery, they use pot stills with different neck shapes and angles of the upper line arm during the second distillation (re-distillation). This allows them to produce distinct base spirits with varying aromas and flavors.
There is also a grain distillery called Hiki Distillery, which currently serves as the second distillery.Originally, this was a shochu distillery that produced the “Kozuru” series, the flagship product of Komasa Shuzo, and “KOMASA GIN” was also produced there. Following the Kanonosuke Distillery, the Hioki Distillery obtained a whisky production license in 2020 and began producing grain whisky. whisky distilled at Hioki has already been released for sale.
Click here for past products from the 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.
