In the Awakening Series from Kirsch Import there is one Japanese whisky. This single cask comes from Kanosuke distillery, which calls itself a Next Generation Japanese whisky. However, other than the distillery, there’s hardly any information. No cask type, no vintage, no age. Technically it doesn’t even state single malt anywhere on the packaging, as far as I can tell. Weird since they have this in bold letters on standard bottlings.
Kanosuke (57%, OB ‘Awakening Series’ for Kirsch Import 2025, cask #19466, 108 btl.)
Nose: a lot of cedar wood and other exotic wood types. Sweet and sour notes, like sour plums, red berries and pipe tobacco. Some clove oil, cinnamon and hints of brown sugar. It certainly hints at sherry. Then a bit of honey glaze but also orange peels, walnuts and cranberries. A very subtle balsamic hint and vague incense in the background, even a faint smoky edge.
Mouth: a lot of exotic wood again, along with cinnamon and plums. Mid-palate there’s an uncommon note that is hard to pin down. Something in between synthetic strawberry, tobacco and floral notes, like rose petals. Hints of peaches. Then also herbal tea and lots of juniper notes, baked apples and hints of Coca Cola. The cask was heavily toasted, or so it seems, and there’s a winey note to it.
Finish: very long, with drying wood notes, charred herbs and these light floral hints.
A very oriental whisky, nice! Perhaps a recharred sochu cask, or a funky sherry cask? We can only guess. There’s a little wood astringency at this point, but it certainly piques my interest. A name to watch.