If you’re tired of the usual suspects like Yamazaki and Hibiki, and you’re a fan of Irish single pot stills like Redbreast, you’ve got to try Kanosuke’s new release.
Backed by Diageo’s Distill Ventures incubator, Kanosuke’s got a rich heritage with Yoshitsugu Komasa at the helm, a fourth-generation shochu maker. While shochu (a low-ABV spirit) and whisky are different beasts, Kanosuke brings some of those old-school techniques to their whisky game.
The Kanosuke Pot Still Grain Whisky is crafted at their sister distillery, Hioki, known for shochu. It’s a unique concoction made from a mash bill of malted and unmalted barley, echoing Irish pot still whiskey’s distinct fruity kick and rich mouthfeel.
Aged for at least three years in new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels, this whisky offers creamy caramel, stewed apple, orange zest, vanilla, and milk chocolate, with a hint of black pepper and cinnamon.
Words: Shamim De Brún
