As the first generation of craft Japanese whiskymakers have now fully taken flight, it's clear that some of them have become cult favourites and perhaps none more so than Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima and Saburomaru in Toyama (they also both happen to be established in the same year 2017!) - so what happens when the two come together for a set of collaboration double distillery releases?

Kanosuke has just launched its Kanosuke Collaboration Series which will see the exchanging of whiskies and blending them domestically and internationally with both Japanese distillery peers and also those from around the world - it's a rare show of fraternity that was once unthinkable, and has today become increasingly embraced by the new generations of distillers.

And so for its first ever Collaboration Series 01, Kanosuke is working with Saburomaru on the theme "Mellow Meets Peated", where the goal is to pair Saburomaru's peaty style with Kanosuke's fruity and mellow character. By exchanging whiskies, both distilleries will showcase their own interpretation of the theme, with the hope of combining the individuality of each distillery to create something new. Kanosuke's whisky in the blend is non-peated and Bourbon barrel aged, with Saburomaru's whisky heavily peated and aged in Bourbon barrels and toasted barrels.

"The characteristics of peaty spirits vary greatly depending on the environment, equipment, fermentation, distillation, and maturation conditions of the distillery. KANOSUKE's peat is characterized by a somewhat soft, sweet impression. On the other hand, Saburomaru Distillery's peat has a clear outline and possesses both strength and depth. It is precisely because of these contrasting characteristics that the appeal of each was brought out in a more three-dimensional way in this blend. I feel that the mellow spirit quality and the structure of the peat have come together to express a new balance that could not be achieved with either spirit alone." says Kanosuke founder, Yoshitsugu Komasa.

Kanosuke Collaboration Series 01 Kanosuke x Saburomaru (嘉之助コラボレーションシリーズ 01 KANOSUKE×SABUROMARU)

Tasting Notes

Colour: Gold

Aroma: Sea breeze, grapefruit, caramel, lychee, green apple, oak wood bonfire.

Taste: Honey, cinnamon, kumquat, vanilla, passion fruit, black pepper, iodine.

Finish: Citrus and tropical fruits, a hint of iodine reminiscent of a sea breeze, and a gentle, lingering peat smoke create a pleasant finish.

ABV: 50%

Price: 22,000 Yen (US$137.45)

Saburomaru Ryuko Double Distillery Saburomaru x Kanosuke (三郎丸 龍虎 ～DOUBLE DISTILLERY～ SABUROMARU×KANOSUKE)

Tasting Notes

Aroma: A moist, fruity aroma reminiscent of Japanese citrus fruits, with pleasant oak notes of chocolate and cinnamon. The smoky flavor, which defines the contours and nuances, gradually takes on a refreshing sea breeze.

Taste: A deep, slightly bitter taste reminiscent of old wood unfolds, followed by a malty, fragrant, and rich sweetness, and a long-lasting finish with a smoky aroma and grapefruit-like notes.

Comment: This Japanese blended malt boasts a rich, expansive flavor with a refreshing citrus note, while a multi-layered, powerful smoky flavor teeters on top of it, creating a harmonious balance.

ABV: 50%

Price: 22,000 Yen (US$137.45)

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team