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

Kanosuke Double Distillery is a Japanese blended whisky from the Komasa family's two distilleries in Kagoshima, bottled at 53% in a 70cl bottle. It is non-chill-filtered and has no added colour. It combines Kanosuke single malt with Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still, both distilled within the family business, with no bought-in malt or neutral grain whisky. The name refers to the two distilleries, not to the number of distillations. Hioki Pot Still was first developed for this blend. The nose offers sweet vanilla, mint and lemongrass, with apricot, melon and yellow peach. The palate has rich sweetness with clove and Japanese cinnamon, plus black tea and mandarin. The finish is fruity, soft and slightly bittersweet, with moderate oak.