Kanosuke – Single Malt (70cl, 48%)

Kanosuke Single Malt is the flagship bottling of the Kanosuke Distillery in Hioki, on the coast of Kagoshima. It is a vatting of malt whiskies from several cask types, and a key component matures in re-charred casks that previously held the distillery's own Mellowed Kozuru shochu. It is bottled at 48% in a 70cl bottle, without colouring or chill-filtration. The distillery runs three pot stills with differently shaped necks and lyne arms, and uses long, slow fermentation. The family's drinks-making began in 1883, and the whisky distillery was founded in 2017. The nose offers honey, banana, lemon tea and caramel. On the palate, quince sweets, Japanese cinnamon and ginger meet lightly smoky nuts. The finish is soft and long, pairing elegant sweetness with fine bitterness.