Whisky: Kanosuke Limited Edition 2023

Country/Region: Japan

ABV: 59%

Cask: Recharred Shochu, Sherry

Age: N/A (Bottled 2023)

Nose: Dried fruits and lacquered wood gestured toward the influence of the sherry casks; brown sugar, herbal spice with mild pipe tobacco and clove, cigar box, pine wood and resin.

Palate: Medium-bodied, pine and sandalwood upfront with earthy ginger and sarsaparilla; black cherry and licorice brought old-fashioned sodas to mind with a mellow nuttiness, hints of chocolate, and some lingering tobacco.

Finish: Medium to long with sarsaparilla, cherry, and licorice.

Score: 6-7 (80)

Mental Image: A Tease from the Future

Narrative & Notes: An interesting release and my favorite Kanosuke so far!  It was no one-trick pony as it combined peated and unpeated malt with shochu and sherry casks.  Though it featured peated malt, I did not get much in the way of smoke or char. Was that the sasparilla and licorice notes I picked up?  However, those seem more likely to come from the re-charred shochu casks. The influence of the sherry maturation was far more prevalent on the nose and well-integrated into the background on the palate.

Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to trying future releases.