Limited K&L Exclusive Whiskey
Kanosuke “A Pacific Ocean Collaboration” K&L Wine Merchants & Acorn LTD ex-Cognac Finished Single Barrel Cask #21494 Strength Non-Chillfiltered Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (700ml)
($209.99)
From the cutting-edge Kanosuke Distillery, founded by second-generation distiller Kanosuke Kosama, this innovative project began in 2018 and has quickly earned a reputation for producing meticulously crafted, modern whiskeys. At K&L, our goal is always to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to great products at great prices. This Kanosuke collaboration has been in the works for some time, and we are thrilled to finally introduce what we believe to be one of the most exciting projects coming out of Japan today.
This project, a partnership between K&L, Acorn Ltd.—an incredible Japanese retailer, importer, and independent bottler—and Kanosuke, is truly a Pacific Ocean collaboration. With only 530 bottles released, this bottling is not available anywhere else in the United States. Given its rarity and exceptional quality, we have no doubt that “A Pacific Ocean Collaboration” will become a prized collector’s item. We hope you enjoy this extraordinary selection as much as we do.
The spectacular Kanosuke Distillery combines tradition and innovation like no other in the world. Located just a short drive from the southern city of Kagoshima, the prefecture is the heart of Japan’s distillation industry. The heat and humidity of Kyushu Island create an environment that’s better suited for whiskey distillation than for the long, slow fermentations required for high-quality sake. The renowned Kozuru Shochu was created by Kanosuke Komasa and holds the distinction of being the first barrel-aged shochu in Japan. The distillery bearing Komasa-san’s name is the vision of his grandson, Yoshitsugu Komasa. In many ways, it represents the fulfillment of his grandfather’s legacy and is named in honor of the man who pioneered barrel-aging spirits in Japan.
A key to their success lies in the use of Miyake copper pot stills, each with distinct neck shapes and lyne arm angles, which allow for a wide range of variations in the distillation process, resulting in complex, layered spirits. The distillery is situated in a coastal region where the climate is characterized by peaceful summer waters and intense winter winds. This creates a unique microclimate within the prefecture’s subtropical environment, with dramatic seasonal temperature swings that are ideal for whiskey aging. Additionally, the nearby sea spray imparts a mineral-rich, subtly salty influence on the maturation process, giving the whiskey its unmistakable character.
This particular bottle spent 33 months maturing in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished for 32 months in cognac casks, for a total of 5 years and 5 months in oak. The outturn was just 530 bottles.
David Othenin-Girard
K&L Spirits Buyer | Review Date: January 22, 2025
When I began selecting single casks for K&L over 15 years ago, the idea was to build the sort of traditional merchant bottler of yore. One of my former colleagues used to like to compare us to the Berry Bros of the US, though I always envisioned we’d emulate the famous importer/bottlers of Italy and Japan. One of those incredible organizations that I’ve always kept an eye on is the wonderful Acorn Limited. Founded in Saitama in 1996 by Seishi Tsuta, they’re importers, retailers, and independent bottlers. The care and quality that they put into every bottling is second to none. If you’ve ever seen an Acorn bottling, you can be certain the liquid inside is of top quality. I’m honored to have had the opportunity to collaborate on this special cask.
Kanosuke was the perfect bridge for our two organizations. This incredible distillery is doing everything right, and both Acorn & K&L have been champions from the very start. This dual label release—one for the US market and one for the Japanese market—is truly a first. Acorn, who has already sold their entire stash, has held back some of the Japanese labels for US customers who can make the trip. If you’d like to travel to Japan to procure the other half of this historic barrel, please email me to find out how. They will hold for us if we let them know soon.
Onward to the liquid! One of the fabulous things about a new distillery of quality is discovering exactly what they can do. This barrel, finished for nearly 3 years in high-quality cognac casks, is totally distinctive. While our ex-bourbon/shochu barrel felt quintessentially Kanosuke, this one offers a completely different take. Because Kanosuke has 3 different spirit stills, we may continue to see exciting new styles coming out of the distillery for years to come. One constant here is the incredible quality.
The color is a deep gold (0.8). The nose immediately hits with fresh stone fruit, but then pulls back on the fruit and brings forward a wild ocean-y character. The confluence of sweet stone fruit and salty seashore exemplifies the distillery’s region, where the Kagoshima plum’s tart and salty character meets the rugged coast. This interplay between the sweetness of fruit and deep umami is what drew me to this cask and also reminds me of some of my favorite malts in Scotland—Ben Nevis, Clynelish, Old Pulteney.
On the palate, the tension remains: the freshness of fruit up front dissolves into a complex umeboshi, zingy yuzu marmalade, sweet barley tea, and pungent minty citrus peppercorn on the finish. This is somehow both out of the norm for Kanosuke, but so meaningfully of this place. An exceptional barrel and a true honor to have been involved with these two wonderful organizations.
Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA
