Kanosuke Cask Strength Single Malt Japanese Whisky 2023 (70cl, 59%)

Kanosuke Cask Strength is a peated Japanese single malt from Kanosuke Distillery in Hioki, Kagoshima, bottled at 59% ABV in a 700ml bottle. This is the distillery's 2023 limited edition, non-chill-filtered and with no added colouring. It blends 50 ppm peated malt with unpeated malt, all distilled in 2018 and 2019, and aged for an average of four to five years in ex-bourbon barrels, sherry casks and American oak casks that once held Mellowed Kozuru rice shochu. The nose is cinnamon, pastry custard, banana and smoky incense. The palate is weighty, with black tea, salted caramel and baking spice. The finish is dry, with salty-sweet smoke.