Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still

On the nose, gourmet aromas of crème brûlée, fresh oak, apricots and fresh plums reveal themselves. On the palate, rich flavors of vanilla, caramel, toasted oak, cocoa and matcha tea harmonize to create a complex, smooth experience. The finish is both oily and intense, marked by long-lasting notes of deep dark chocolate.

Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still is made from a blend of local Japanese malted and unmalted barley, without the addition of koji, in keeping with Hioki distillery traditions. Distillation takes place in stainless steel stills, a rare method in the world of grain whisky, using a vacuum distillation process. This process, derived from shochu production, lowers the boiling point and reduces undesirable compounds, resulting in a light, silky distillate. After distillation, the whisky is aged slowly in new American white oak casks, ex-bourbon casks and re-toasted shochu casks, adding depth and complexity to its aromatic profile.

Kanosuke grain distillery, located in Hioki, Kagoshima Prefecture, was founded by Yoshitsugu Komasa with a clear vision: to create authentic Japanese whisky steeped in the heritage of shochu. Since 2017, Kanosuke has not only innovated in the field of single malt, but has also extended its production to grain whisky using methods inspired by shochu making, such as vacuum distillation. This bold approach enables Kanosuke to produce distinctive whiskies that fit perfectly into the world of Japanese whiskies, while exploring new possibilities.