Whisky Talk Fukuoka is one of the most highly anticipated whisky festivals not just in Japan but globally, with many fans flying in simply to attend. It is Kyushu's largest whisky event and is organised by the Tsuzaki distribution company which is founded by Shoji Utoda, a real pioneer in the Japanese whisky scene. 

(Image Source: Whisky Talk Fukuoka)

It is said that Fukuoka's bars are amongst the best stocked because whisky takes a backseat to sake in the area, given that Kurume City in Fukuoka is one of Japan's three major sake-producing regions. As such, you don't have whisky fans emptying all the best bottles the moment it makes the bar shelf. 

Separate to that there's also something to be said about Utoda-san who founded Tsuzaki. While Ichiro, yes, Chichibu's Ichiro, is now obviously a rockstar in the Japanese whisky scene, most would have known that this wasn't always the case. There was a time when he was just starting out and to make ends meet, had gone bar to bar to sell bottles of his grandfather's Hanyu whisky.

(Image Source: Whisky Talk Fukuoka)

A famous bit of the story goes that he had hit up over 2,000 bars across Tokyo and even took 2 years just to sell his first 600 bottles of the now highly legendary Playing Cards series.

Perhaps less well known is that Utoda-san shares a close relationship with Ichiro, and while he didn't consider himself a distiller then, keep in mind that Chichibu's success was entirely unexpected, he did instead start his distribution company, Tsuzaki. As such, he had himself carried bottles of the Playing Cards series and apparently took long train rides around the country hawking the bottles to bars on behalf of Ichiro, hoping to help support Ichiro's ambitions.

Although it would be great to show a picture of Ichiro-san with Utoda-san, I can't find any - and as you know, you can tell two guys are great friends when they have known each other for 30 years and don't have one photo together.

Today, Ichiro is apparently repaying the favor by supporting Utoda-san in finally getting into the whiskymaking game, by consulting on Utoda-san's newly up and running Kuju Distillery. Keep a watch out for this one, it seems like it's going to be big in a couple of years.

In any case, today's bottle comes from a private bottling of Kanosuke from Whisky Talk Fukuoka's 2022 event.

It is a 4 Year Old Kanosuke, aged with a second-fill ex-Bourbon Barrel, and bottled at 57% ABV. It has a really small outturn of just 234 bottles. For some reason the Whisky Talk website says its distilled in 2017 on the label, but confirms its 2018 in the text. And also says that it has a 235-bottle outturn. Ah well, tomato tomato. Also, this is the second of the Crane & Sky Kanosuke releases from Whisky Talk Fukuoka.

Let's drink!

Kanosuke 2018 Crane and Sky, 4 Years Old, Bottled For Whisky Talk Fukuoka 2022, 57% ABV - Review

Tasting Notes

Color: Gold

Aroma: Honey, with lots of juicy golden apples, and more on cinnamon and vanilla icing. There's also spiced pears, orchard fruit compote, apple pie stuffing, and vanilla cream. Very much baked confectionaries, stewed fruits and pastry.

Taste: Honey, again, with the same juicy apples, custard cream and vanilla here. It is very well balanced, with more notes of cinnamon spice, nutmeg, caramel sauce, and a final more minty hit of menthol.

Finish: Lots of developing warmth, more sweet apple sauce, after which it grows more bitter and astringent towards the finish, with more on woody tannins, white pepper, and finally a slight herbaceousness.

My Thoughts

This is very well balanced, albeit not the most powerful Kanosuke I've had, but it thoroughly embodies the classic Kanosuke profile of baked pastries and spiced stewed orchard fruits. I really enjoy the balance and this is just textbook Kanosuke but not yet the GOAT.

What is always a joy about Kanosuke is that on the one hand it balances these heavier, richer flavors and yet on the other texturally it is really uplifting, with an almost airiness and lightness to it. I don't mean a watery texture mind you, but almost a brightness and gossamer touch - think silk.

Your best bet at finding this is on Whisky Auctioneer.

Kanpai!

@111hotpot