“Single Malt Kanosuke 2023 LIMITED EDITION” will be released on June 14, 2023.
It is made with peat malt in 2018-19 and vatted in multiple casks, mainly from the original spirit matured in “shochu litchi casks” and sherry casks, which is a standard practice for the Kanosuke Distillery. This single malt Japanese whisky is bottled at cask strength.
The number of bottles sold and lottery information are unknown at this time. We are waiting for the official announcement from the distillery, but we are expecting this time as well, since the distillery always holds a lottery every time they release a new product.
1. Single Malt Kanosuke 2023 LIMITED EDITION
“Single Malt Kanosuke 2023 LIMITED EDITION 59% 700ml” is a single malt Japanese whisky produced at the Kanosuke Distillery. It is made with peat malt in 2018-19 and aged mainly in shochu litchi and sherry casks, with multiple barrel Vatting and bottled at cask strength. Enjoy the mellow sweetness and lingering smoky flavor.
Reference: Single Malt Kanosuke Limited Edition 2023 LIMITED EDITION 700ML [Kanosuke] / Sase Sake Shop
| Official Tasting Notes | |
| Color | Deep yellow amber |
| Nose | Banana, custard cream, Nikki candy, Iburigakko |
| Taste | Salted caramel, black tea, yatsuhashi, blood orange |
| Finish | Summer tangerine, prickly pepper, and the lingering aroma of bonfires. |
| Product Name | Single Malt Kanosuke 2023 LIMITED EDITION |
|---|---|
| By Sake | Single malt Japanese whisky |
| Ingredients | English malt (non-peated and peated malt) |
| Cask type | Shochu rich cask, sherry cask, etc. |
| Number of bottles |
ー |
| Number of bottles | 59% |
| Price | Suggested retail price: 14,300 yen (tax included) |
| Manufactured at | Kanosuke Distillery |
| Manufacturer | Komasa Kanosuke Distillery Co. |
2. How to purchase
At this time (April 21, 2023), there is no information about the lottery or how to purchase on the official website of the Kanosuke Distillery.
3. About the Kanosuke Distillery
Kanosuke Distillery started operation in 2017.
It stands on a spacious site of approximately 9,000 m2 along Fukiage beach on the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture, and is dotted with various facilities. 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 whisky making up close.
The main feature of the Kanosuke Distillery is that it is equipped with three pot stills (distillers), each with a capacity of 6,000 liters, 3,000 liters, and 3,000 liters, respectively. The capacity of each still is 6,000 liters, 3,000 liters, and 1,600 liters, respectively, and two stills are common for craft distilleries (small distilleries) in the world. Whisky is usually distilled twice, and Kanosuke Distillery uses pot stills with different shapes of necks and angles of the upper line arm during the second distillation (redistillation) to create a different aroma and flavor of the original whisky.
Production will begin in November 2022 on a two-shift basis.
4.Single Malt Kanosuke Lineup
4-1. Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #002
The Kanosuke Artist Edition is inspired by the “Wuxing“, which is deeply rooted in the lives of Japanese people, and was created by an artist who is active in various fields, with an original label design based on the concept of the five elements: “tree, fire, earth, metal, and water”. The label was designed by a photographer who is active in a variety of fields. The label was drawn by Yuna Yagi, a photographer, using the motif of “fire” in the five elements.
4-2. Single Malt Kanosuke
“Single Malt Kanosuke” was created under the concept of “a mellow whisky with the Kanosuke Distillery’s character,” utilizing the traditional “distiller’s brewing” and “barrel storage” techniques of Komasa Brewery, which were cultivated through the production of “Mellow Kozuru”.
Non-peat malt is used, and the key ingredient is the original spirit aged in American white oak litchi casks and vatted in multiple casks. It was non-chill filtered, watered down to 48%, and bottled.
4-3. Single Malt Kanosuke 2022 LIMITED EDITION
“Single Malt Kanosuke 2022 LIMITED EDITION” is a single malt Japanese whisky produced at the Kanosuke Distillery from 2017-2019. Made with non-peat malt, the key ingredient is the original spirit matured in sherry casks, vatted in multiple casks, and bottled at cask strength.
The key malt is the original sherry cask-aged spirit, which imparts a full and attractive aroma.
Please enjoy the lingering taste like the setting sun slowly sinking into the East China Sea.
4-4.Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #001
The “Artist Edition” is inspired by the “Wuxing“, which is deeply rooted in Japanese people’s daily lives, and is created by artists active in various fields who have designed original labels based on the concept of the five elements: “tree, fire, earth, metal, and water”. The series will be released once a year in limited quantities.
The first one, “Single Malt Kanosuke Artist Edition #001,” is the first full bottle of 2022 Kanosuke Distillery. Several casks were carefully selected from American white oak and litchi casks, which are made with non-piped malt from England and aged with the sea breeze as a lullaby.
The motif’s five-element philosophy is “tree”. The label design was created by Mariko Hirasawa, an active illustrator. It depicts an oak tree stretching powerfully toward the sky in gentle tones.
4-5. Single Malt Kanosuke 2021 SECOND EDITION
“Single Malt Kanosuke 2021 SECOND EDITION” is a single malt Japanese whisky produced at the Kanosuke Distillery in 2018. It is made with non-peat malt and aged in bourbon casks as the key ingredient, vatted in multiple casks and bottled at cask strength.
The gentle sea breeze that blows at the Kanosuke Distillery cools the beer day by day, allowing it to spend a gentle time maturing.
Please enjoy the elegant sweetness and bitterness of this distilled spirit, matured in the softness of the sea breeze. (From the manufacturer’s website)
4-6. Single Malt Kanosuke 2021 FIRST EDITION
“Single Malt Kanosuke 2021 FIRST EDITION” is our first single malt Japanese whisky produced at the Kanosuke Distillery in 2017-18.
It is made with non-peat malt, and was vatted and bottled at cask strength in multiple casks, with the key ingredient being the original spirit aged in American white oak rich casks used for our barrel-aged rice shochu “Mellow Kozuru”.
Finally, our Japanese whiskey journey has begun. (From the manufacturer’s website)
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.
