Whisky: Kanosuke 4 Year (2018), Distillery Exclusive Cask 18117

Country/Region: Japan

ABV: 55%

Cask: Sherry Cask

Age: 4 Years (Distilled June 2018, Bottled January 2023)

Nose: Loud and sherried with dried dates, stewed plums, raisins, and thick jam; rich tobacco and musty leather drifted further in with brown sugar and butter melting to caramel in a hot pan.

Palate: Medium-bodied and oily, very sherried with figs, raisins, plums, dried fruits and jam; more gentle leathery funk, musty wood, earthy ginger; more baking spices and fruity syrups toward the end with cinnamon and a kiss of sulfur.

Finish: Medium to long with concentrated figs and stewed fruits.

Score: 5 (75)

Mental Image: Leather Tanning and Fig Wine

Narrative & Notes: Rich and incredibly cask-driven, this was my introduction to Kanosuke Distillery; though considering the dominant role of the cask, it was not terribly instructive in distillery character. Kanosuke began distilling in 2018 as part of the latest wave of Japanese distilleries, and like some of their fellows, they released a series of preview bottles before their malt hit three years to help build hype for the arrival of their core products. 

This little guy was a distillery exclusive that a buddy picked up in Japan.  Considering the age, I was impressed with the integration of flavors and spirit, though as a cask-bomb, it was a bit one-dimensional.  Overall, not a bad introduction, but I will need to try some more Kanosuke before I know what to make of the distillery!