Kanosuke – Single Malt Sherry Casks Vatted (70cl, 48%)

This is a limited edition single malt from the Kanosuke Distillery, which Yoshitsugu Komasa founded in 2017 in Hioki, Kagoshima. It is bottled at 48% in a 70cl bottle, non-chill-filtered and without added colour. More than 60% of the vatting comes from sherry casks: Oloroso parcels aged between 3.5 and 5 years, and Cream sherry casks. Re-charred shochu casks add a spicy Japanese note, and a small share of new American white oak adds vanilla. It was the first release by Ryota Kamino as main blender. The nose offers dark cherry, vanilla, Japanese cinnamon and raspberry. Raisins, dark chocolate, clove, lychee and rich fruit cake follow, ending in mangosteen and a long, lightly bitter, dry oak finish.