It's been some time since we last checked in with everyone's favourite new generation Japanese craft distillery Kanosuke - they seem deeply focused on properly setting down the foundations for their second whisky distillery (which is also their original Shochu distillery that has since been partially retrofitted to now produce whiskies as well), Hioki. There's even talk through the grapevine that a rum distillery is in the works - that would certainly be exciting! That aside, Kanosuke has sought to also cement its various touchpoints with trade specific expressions like the Mellow Bar Reserve which sits as a travel retail exclusive, as well as the Kagoshima Exclusive that is said to only be found in Kanosuke's home prefecture.

Nevertheless that all has meant that Kanosuke hasn't quite put out a new distillery expression - simply in and of itself; not one of the exclusives, or collaborative partnerships - in some time ever since the launch of the flagship Kanosuke Single Malt Japanese Whisky. Yet, let's not forget that the first Kanosuke single malt whisky had just debut in 2021, and so just 4 years since, the team has really been firing on all cylinders. It's tough when everyone wants a piece of you!

Kanosuke Distillery.

And so earlier in 2025, Kanosuke seemed to mark a return of its distillery expressions with a Kanosuke Peated Single Malt. As far as I'm aware it's not certain if this is a limited edition (as previous releases bore the vintage of its release ie. 2021 First Edition, 2021 Second Edition, 2022, 2023, and also the 2024 Hioki) or if it'll become a Kanosuke core range expression.

In any case, Kanosuke has long tinkered with the Peated style - this goes as far back to a Newborn 24 months old peated spirit bottling, and as recently as the Kanosuke 2023 Limited Edition - and also I suppose there's always this desire by whisky producers outside of Scotland to demonstrate how traditional Scotch styles would be reinterpreted as in their hands. And so that all is to say, I'm not surprised!

Specs wise, the Kanosuke Peated is made from peated malt that has been aged in recharred Shochu barrels and ex-Bourbon barrels. The whiskies aged in various cask types was then vatted to form the Kanosuke Peated.

Let's go!

Whisky Review: Kanosuke Single Malt Peated Japanese Whisky, 48% ABV

Tasting Notes

Colour: Gold

Aroma: Really gentle smoke, it’s heathery yet also a touch briny, with some of that kombu seaweed and yet also some lavender. Followed closely is a base of honey and stewed fruits of prunes, plums and raisins. There’s a little bit of rancio here, this light nuttiness and flor, with some brie rinds. With time more tropical fruits begin to emerge, pineapples, pink guavas, apricots and some gooseberries, all coaxed in with the honey.

Taste: Medium-bodied, it’s definitely more ashy on the palate. With the iodine and kombu seaweed, and salinity too, all coming through much more presently. It’s still really honeyed, with alittle bit of Sherry at the back, those stewed prunes and plums, with alittle bit of leather. It’s got a moderate richness, almost alittle candied, with just a quick touch of apricots and peaches. There’s some greenness here in the form of eucalyptus and cooked vine leaves as well.

Finish: The ashiness persists, here with a sprinkle of crushed black pepper, with more of a medicinal quality coming through. Some cough syrup in there. There’s some iodine and kombu seaweed here as well, all delivered over a bed of honey. It’s a clean and spicy finish that’s giving more pepperiness that lingers in quite the liveliness.

My Thoughts

Let's get straight to the peat - the peat here is rather gentle and accommodating, with less smokiness per se, and more of the actual peat flavours coming through. On the nose, the smokiness is soft, yet we do initially find ourselves wondering if this was a mix of Highland and Islay peat, with both characteristics of that heathery quality of Highland peat, as well as the more coastal and maritime notes of Islay peat coming through in an almost intertwined fashion. This is all very much backed up by honey, and a rather good deal of fruits that show up as well, ranging from Sherry fruits to more tropical yellow fruits, and even a side of rancio at that.

The body has a good amount of richness to it, even alittle candied, although we'd have liked it to carry alittle more concentration and tension. That said, it continued to deliver the same coastal qualities - even more apparent here actually - with also still those Sherry notes still coming through. The smoke here is so soft, it's pretty much unnoticeable as far as we're concerned, with also light touches of yellow fruits that make just about a cameo's worth of an appearance.

The finish is where it gets more Islay-like, with more medicinal notes coming through, ashiness too. Yet it still maintains that honeyed richness, leading into a nicely spicy and lively finish that lingers on quite abit much in the way of sichuan peppercorns (or ma la).

For those adverse to peat, you'll be happy to find out that this expression, true to Kanosuke's word, isn't peated to the high heavens, in fact the peat here is rather soft and gentle, although peatheads shouldn't fear any lack of that peaty influence. Overall, a decent showing, although we can't help but wish it showed more concentration and heft, with alittle bit more of an oomph!

Kanpai!

@111hotpot