Kanosuke has been lit to say the least. Getting really popular and building a real cult following. And the proof is in the pudding, they make really good whiskies; they've added something unique to the picture, using their parent company's famous Shochu oak barrels for at least some of their whiskies. They know how to play the game well too - lots of limited edition collaboration releases on the regular to keep the fanbase excited. 

I've been fortunate to try a fair number of their releases and I've thus far really enjoyed them; haven't had a bad one thus far - they've largely followed the theme of cooked apples, apple pie and custard pudding, is what I've come to generalise.

Takashimaya's Iyotetsu outlet celebrates its 20th anniversary. (Image Source: GLTJP)

This one is a non-peated single first fill ex-bourbon 3 Year Old from Kanosuke, distilled in 2019 and bottled at 61% ABV, and was bottled for the largest departmental store in Japan (and an institution in the shopping scene of Singapore, as well), Takashimaya's Iyotetsu outlet's 20th anniversary.

Unrelated to the whisky, Takashimaya brings back so many memories for me, having grown up strolling the departmental store with my parents on the weekends. I would spend hours on end getting lost in their Kinokuniya bookstore, which till this day is my favorite bookstore. Every weekend spent at Takashimaya was a real treat - there was a sense of old school refinement and style, walking past the various brands' stores with my mother, and then heading down to the basement for an array of Japanese street food that at the time was only available in the Japanese departmental store. I used to love the Takoyaki - unfortunately, as Japanese street fare has become popularised, they've since shuttered.

Perhaps one of the things I'm most sentimental towards in Singapore. Singapore's own Takashimaya outlet is an institution in the local shopping scene. (Image Source: Dreamstime, Belinda Wu)

Singapore is known for its shopping scene and many other malls in Singapore have joined the fray, but Takashimaya will likely always remain my favorite. Till this day, if I hadn't gone to visit in a couple of weeks, I'll feel as if something was missing. Not because I have something in mind to buy but just that feeling of nostalgia, walking around something that's stayed largely the same (subtle changes in the tenants. of course) while I've only grown each passing year. There's a Greek saying "No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same river and he's not the same man" - the latter half I relate to most. Whenever I step in, I've always felt like I was home.

Kanosuke 2019, 3 Year Old, Single Cask for Iyotetsu Takashimaya 20th Anniversary, 61% ABV - Review

Tasting Note

Color: Deep Amber

Aroma: A light black pepperiness alongside butterscotch, maple syrup, brown sugar and cinnamon. The classic vanilla caramel pudding with cinnamon and nutmeg. Green apples and poached apples as well. It's viscously sweet and giving me baked goods - apple tarts and peach tarts.

Taste: It starts off muscular with a heavy body of maple syrup and a touch of black pepper and spectacularly brightens up into a deep caramel custard note - wow! It feels like I'm free falling into a giant caramel custard pudding. It is incredibly long drawn out - rich vanilla, an eggy custard, and cinnamon. It's rich, supple and aromatic. As this uplifting sensation fades, there's again a heavier base of sticky date pudding and cooked plums.

Finish: It gets more woody here, a light char and astringency becomes more distinct, with a nice mellow richness of lemon tea cake - buttery and aromatic. A nice final refreshing touch.

My Thoughts

Wow! The palate was just incredible! While it holds fairly tight to the classic Kanosuke house style, the palate started off conventionally but then suddenly lifted up and brought us on a ride down the supple side of a giant caramel custard pudding - phenomenal! It was bright and airy with aromatic notes of caramel, custard and cinnamon. It went on for what felt like an eternity as it kept on going and going, opening up as it went. The only drawback for me is the more sharply astringent charred oaky notes on the finish which sensationally felt like I could taste each wood grain of the barrel and just got a tad bit drying.

That said - the palate on this is absolutely fantastic and also more interestingly, a standout thus far in the Kanosuke literature. Classic Kanosuke but A+ execution on the palate.

This was sold at Takashimaya in Japan, your best bet now is via secondary auctions - Yahoo Japan for example or Dekanta.

Lead image courtesy of an incredibly generous Singaporean collector who never fails to share the good stuff with the rest of us!

Kanpai!

@111hotpot