Kanosuke 5 Year Old "Ex-Bourbon Barrel Finished" K&L Exclusive Cask Strength Single Barrel #18120 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (700ml)

The incredible Kanosuke Distillery is undoubtedly one of the most important single malt producers in the world today. It's clear just by what they've achieved already that they're on a trajectory to be one of the most innovative and sought-after distillers anywhere in the world. But it's not until visiting the incredible site at the very southern tip of the island of Kyushu that I began to appreciate the significance of this distiller and how it fits into the broader story of Japanese single malt and beyond. First, we must give reverence to the visionary family and its patron Komasa-san. Their barrel mellowed Shochu Kozuru is ubiquitous around the city of Kagoshima and throughout Japan. The history of the brand and the inspiration for the distillery are one in the same. Kagoshima is a wonderful and strange small city filled with some of the warmest most welcoming people in the world. The Japanese Kurobuto pigs have made the area famous worldwide, but there's no question this is shochu country. Literally hundreds of small shochu distillers exist up and down the coast. The hot humid weather makes sake production more seasonal than the cooler north and so distillation is king here. So why has it taken the region so long to have a proper single malt distillery? It seems it's both bureaucratic and political, but the creation of the Kanosuke distillery represents the foundational moment of what I believe is to be the great southern Japanese whisky trail. Kanosuke will always be the first here and Japanese whisky fanatics can't get enough of it. We visited the Chichibu Festival the week before arrived at Kagoshima, where the line to taste the Kanosuke was out the door and looping around the block. Bottles of single barrels are coveted there, selling out in minutes, and being resold by collectors for many times their original price. So how did this new distillery at end of the rails become so widely regarded as exceptional? The proof is in the pudding as they say. It just tastes so damn good and checks every box. This is the first of two barrels we purchased from the excellent distillery. Their hall mark is the aging of malt in freshly dumped ex-shochu casks. This is still highly active American oak, and the hot humid climate accelerates maturation like -albeit not as forcefully- the Taiwanese distillers. This barrel was aged additionally in a first use ex-bourbon barrel and for me exemplifies the Kanosuke style extremely well. Let's have at it! The color is stunning auburn (1.5), an impressive feat without coloring or wine casks. The nose has the most beautiful richness of wood giving all the sweet caramel of the of a bourbon yet pointed with unique exotic spice of the shochu barrels. There's something quintessentially Kanosuke here, but concentrated. As it opens fresh roasted coffee, chocolate covered tangerines, mace, sweet cinnamon candies, candied cherry, and hints of just ripe tropical fruit. On the palate the bourbon character completely acquiesces to the dense malt, offering gorgeous exotic spices, citrus oils, quince jam, fresh herbs, dry tobacco leaf and wisps of salted nuts. With a bit of water, the whole thing opens beautifully adding real complexity and weight on the palate. Now the citrus oil, bitter barks and rich herbs on the nose mingle with toasted vanilla and dense candied fruit. The palate is more supple but adds a lithe structure and refreshing lemony note. A deep, almost Springbank-y fruitiness complements perfectly. Now the palate is rich with chocolates, wild honey and warming spice. This such an incredible cross over spirit for American whisky drinkers wanting to explore single malt, but also embodies the soul of Kanosuke so well. We are honored to be one of the first stores in the US to have a barrel of Kanosuke and we couldn't be prouder of the cask we've selected. Take note, this is the next great Japanese distillery.