Kanosuke Double Distillery Blended Japanese Whisky (70cl, 53%)

Kanosuke Double Distillery is a Japanese blended whisky made together by two sister distilleries in Kagoshima, Kanosuke and Hioki, run by the grandsons of the founder, Kanosuke Komasa. It is bottled at 53% ABV in a 70cl bottle, non-chill-filtered and with no added colouring. It blends lightly peated Kanosuke single malt with Hioki pot still whisky made from malted and unmalted barley. The whisky was aged for an average of three to five years in new American oak, re-charred Mellowed Kozuru shochu casks, sherry casks and ex-bourbon casks. The nose is floral, with summer melon, stone fruit and lemongrass over vanilla and mint. The palate is rich and bittersweet, with black tea, orange peel, clove and raspberry. The finish lingers with oak, a touch of bitterness and fruit.