As Japanese whisky distillers push the boundaries on expressing the utmost sense of origin through their whiskies, there has been a massive effort undertaken to use local barley in their whiskymaking. This has been historically difficult considering that local barley, which is already small in production, is typically produced for food, and hence are not designed for whiskymaking, which is why most Japanese distillers have typically relied on imported barley.

Yet, Kagoshima distillery Kanosuke has pushed ahead!

Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima.

Released only locally in the Kagoshima area, the new Kanosuke Single Malt Kagoshima Exclusive is the first ever from the distillery to be made using Hoshun barley, which is a premium two-row barley that is grown in the Kagoshima Prefecture.

The barley was then malted in-house using the unique Hioki method which applies koji-making practices honed by the distillery's Shochu expertise (from their making of the famous Mellowed Kozuru Shochu). This is thus a tribute to Kanosuke's very origins as a multi-generational Shochu maker that is famed for pioneering cask aged Shochu in Japan.

The spirit made from the locally grown Hoshun malt was then aged in the signature Kanosuke recharred Shochu casks, and then carefully vatted with whiskies aged in various other barrels (including ex-Bourbon barrels).

The Kanosuke Single Malt Kagoshima Exclusive is thus said to be rich and layered, expressing the signature mellow character, with notes of brown sugar, tropical fruits and bitter orange, interwoven with a warm malt savouriness. Kanosuke hopes that the new whisky expression will evoke the lush landscapes of Kagoshima.

It is bottled at 48% ABV, and has been put on sale in the following stockists from 18th April 2025.

It is sold exclusively in Kagoshima with the express aim of contributing to the development of the region through whisky production, and to once again pay tribute to the terroir of Hioki, Kagoshima, which is the hometown of Kanosuke Distillery. 

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Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team