Now well into their fifth year of putting out full fledged official distillery bottlings, with its debut Kanosuke 2021 First Edition already a figment of memories half a decade past, Kanosuke has continued to steadily build upon its repertoire in a distinctly consistent and systematic manner, slow and steady, these years averaging about 2-3 official releases per year. As opposed to belting out a ceaselessly never-ending torrent of new releases, which can sometimes feel like catching a wave with a paper cup, Kanosuke seems to prefer to expand its reaches and gradually establish a root network of sorts that together support the tree that is Kanosuke. It's a prudent, if not at times fervour tamping down approach, not all that dissimilar to waiting on the next release of your favourite manga that can take months, if not years to arrive.

And yet, testament to its popularity, the moment a new Kanosuke release comes onto the scene, you best believe it's going to turn every head in the room - at least that was the case when the new Kanosuke 2026 Limited Edition was whipped out as a surprise at a recent local whisky gathering. There had to be about 20 bottles assembled, with no shortage of who's who distilleries, and yet the Kanosuke 2026 Limited Edition had to be the one bottle that was unanimously tasted by everyone in attendance. Perhaps slow and steady does win the race!

Kanosuke's founder Yoshitsugu Komasa, who named the distillery after his grandfather, Kanosuke Komasa.

Over the past year, Kanosuke Distillery has noticeably slowed the pace of its limited-edition official releases. Much of its focus appears to have shifted toward offerings like the Mellow Bar Reserve and Kagoshima Exclusive - bottlings available only at the distillery or within Kagoshima Prefecture, serving as a reward for those who make the journey. At the same time, attention has also turned to its new-old Hioki Distillery. Historically known for producing the cask-aged Mellowed Kozuru shochu under parent company Komasa Jyozo, Hioki has recently been retrofitted to produce pot still whisky and has begun releasing its own single-distillery expressions. Some of these have also since been blended with Kanosuke’s whisky for the Double Distillery bottling.

As a result, Kanosuke’s single malt releases now sit within a broader, more diverse portfolio rather than standing alone as the distillery’s sole flagship brand. That said, of course these days, Kanosuke has also since showed up tidily in the form of private cask bottlings as well!

Regardless, when we take a look at Kanosuke's own Limited Edition releases as of late, it appears that much of the focus has been on letting its fans taste a signature Kanosuke core of sorts, that is then wrapped around in a different set of clothing each time around. What that means is that Kanosuke continually maintains a signature vatting that seems to typically be of whiskies aged in ex-Shochu, Sherry, Bourbon and possibly Wine casks – call it the “mother soup” if you will! With each release, this signature vatting is then given an additional component of peated whisky, or Oloroso and Cream Sherry aged whisky which then serves to differentiate the release. In the case of the new Kanosuke 2026 Limited Edition, it is an Apple Brandy cask aged whisky component that they’ve gone with this time!

Kanosuke's big vat.

Let's dive into what this means and why it matters. Now Kanosuke may not be screaming about it on the rooftops, but this would actually run counter to most Scotch distilleries for example, who would often work to create a new expression by selecting a parcel of whisky stocks fitting of the desired profile (or have been marked for the specific purpose and were thus produced to fit the bill) which are then vatted together to form the final cuvee. And so in the simplest terms, where most distilleries would produce whiskies with almost a specific expression in mind (a bottom up approach), Kanosuke instead focuses producing several components necessary to maintain an overall “house-blend” that can be said to evoke that signature "Kanosuke" flavour profile (a top down approach).

This therefore means that Kanosuke is able to anchor each release with a consistency of its core palette, where most distilleries would instead experience some degree of variation. It's a quiet and very deliberate act, that is also why you'll often see each Kanosuke release now and moving forward contain what seems like an extensive laundry list of whiskies aged in a variety of casks or made in numerous styles that are all then vatted together - this is of course contrary to Scotch single malts that often tout typically an ex-Bourbon maturation with then a single finishing cask type, and thus makes Kanosuke operate alittle more like a blended whisky house. This of course trades off some degree of distinctiveness for consistency of quality, which as we've seen from some of the best to do it in Japan, is what is necessary to outlive a century.

And we haven't even touched upon how Kanosuke has three pot stills, each set up to produce a different style of whisky, which only expands the flavour matrix that can be achieved that much more extensive.

Whilst fans are likely not expected to jump up off their seats at this, it's almost certainly the case that such a move would be heavily lauded by its fellow distilleries, not at the least from an operational and quality assurance standpoint! Nothing keeps a distiller up at night more so than thinking about consistency. And so as they say, if you want the role, you've got to dress and act the part, and in this case, it's clear that Kanosuke is thinking for 100 years ahead and is clearing laying down the groundwork necessary to be in this for the long haul. It may not be loud or flashy, but Kanosuke is making sure that it will flourish not just for today, but maybe forever?

And so if you find that from one Kanosuke expression to the next, that distinctive Kanosuke quality always seems to be guaranteed, you can thank this understated these days more unconventional approach taken by the distillery for that!

Kanosuke Distillery along the long white sand beach that is Fukiagehama.

Now with that said, we come to our whisky of the day - the Kanosuke 2026 Limited Edition!

As we've discussed, this comes from the addition of two unique components to the otherwise core vatting of Kanosuke that's aged in ex-Shochu, Sherry, Bourbon and Red Wine casks, with also some peated malt that's in there - the two unique components that have been included for this expression are an ex-Bourbon barrel aged whisky that's finished in Apple Brandy casks, as well as an Recharred ex-Shochu cask aged whisky that's finished in White Wine casks. 

Consequently, through the use of unique cask finishing, the Kanosuke 2026 Limited Edition is conceived to capture the essence of the Fukiagehama in spring - that's the famed white sand beach that Kanosuke Distillery sits on, and is one of the longest in Japan - when the herbaceous Hamago flower and gentle sea breeze can be experienced. 

With all that said, let's give this a go!

PS. Thank you Shawn for always being the best host, and for generously sharing this!

Whisky Review: Kanosuke 2026 Limited Edition, 57% ABV

嘉之助 シングルモルト 2026 LIMITED EDITION

Tasting Notes

Colour: Deep Gold

Aroma: Deep honeyed sweetness, tinged intensely with vibrant apple scents of freshly harvested peak ripened red apples and also apple blossoms. At the base there's a slight doughiness and a touch of that farmhouse funk of brie cheese rinds, that's mixed in with warm brown sugar. Those warm tones expand to more confectionary qualities with that signature Kanosuke caramel custard pudding and tortoiseshell candy. With time, more candied black and green grapes come through, with also an earthy and somewhat leafy floral note of purple bush flowers, still constantly cusping that deep apple orchard fragrance as well, all the whilst fresh, rich and lifted.

Taste: Medium-bodied, rich and showing great depth. It opens with this super intense apple note, which is then backed up by those classic warm confectionary tones of caramel custard pudding, brown sugar and tortoiseshell candy, brightened with an outline of orange peel. It continues to open up with heaps of custard garnished with perfumed apple blossoms, still keeping that base of brown sugar and that rustic doughiness. It's deep and rich, warm and confectionary, with a brighter accent of that intense fruit sweetness.

Finish: Those rich and heady notes of brown sugar, dough and soft cheese rinds, topped with fresh apple peels, are now joined by a savouriness of BBQ glaze. It builds into a long and deep finish, with then a lingering sweet and savoury note of burnt brown sugar that persists.

My Thoughts

A superb expression that for what it's worth, was highly lauded by those who got to try it, it's rich and cohesive, displaying expressively both the signature Kanosuke flavour profile, with also the apple brandy notes coming through nicely. It's well integrated and distinctive, with good presence and stature, and is yet at the same time not all demanding and doesn't require too much intellectual interrogation. To put it bluntly, those apple notes are not at all hiding - they're offered up in bounties! And so on the one hand you have the comforting familiarity of that classic warm and rich Kanosuke character, and at the same time this delightful accent of fruity apple sweetness that puts a smile on the face. Thoroughly enjoyable, where it is unmistakably Kanosuke, and yet holds a satisfying distinctiveness that pushes the envelope enough to unlock a new side to the Kanosuke repertoire that we haven't seen before.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot