Kanosuke Distillery Flashcards
(20 cards)
Kanosuke’s sochu history
Founded in 1883 by Ichisuke Komasa
From 1953 it was led by Kanosuke Komasa - developed a rice sochu aged in oak casks like those used for whiskey maturation.
In 2015, established a whiskey distillery (more than 130 years after started making sochu)
Whiskey project spearheaded by Yoshitsugu Komasa (4th generation) -
Where did Yoshitsugu Komasa from Kanosuke learn to make whisky?
Komasa and two distillery workers attended whisky school at Strathearn Distillery in May of 2016.
Also visited distilleries on Islay
And inspired by the layout of distillery at Ballindoloch (Speyside)
When did whisky distillation start at Kanosuke?
Production officially started in November of 2017
Distillery officially opened to the public in April of 2018
Who owns a minority stake in Kanosuke?
Diageo bought a minority stake in 2021 as part of it’s drinks accelerator program Distell Ventures
Mash Tun at Kanosuke?
Stainless Steel Lauter Tun
Washbacks at Kanosuke?
10 stainless steel with temperature control
Fermentation kept at 32C on first two days and 35C on third day
Distillation equipment at Kanosuke
3 pots stills: wash still = 6kl, spirits still #1 (3kl) spirits still #2 (1.6kl)
indirect heating system (steam percolators)
with horizontal (#1), descending (#2) and ascending (#3) lyne arms
all with worm tub condensors
Barley used at Kanosuke
Imported from UK
milled at 2:6:2 ratio (husks:grits:flour)
Bulk of production non-peated
occassionally heavily peated (50ppm) - 15% of total production
Small amount of local barley used
Fermentation at Kanosuke
Cloudy wort, low yield, usually not above 6.6% abv
96 hours total
Mashing waters at Kanosuke
Only two waters: 1st = 65C, second 80C
Kanosuke maturation
Filled into wood at 59.8% ABV
ex-Bourbon, ex-Sherry and
a lot of re-charred ex-mello Kozuru puncheons (450L)
also each year distillery fills about half dozen Mizunara casks
Where are Kanosuke distilleries located?
Located on Kyushu island, far south on the beach.
Warm climate, tropical extraction.
What are the three distilleries that make up the “Kagoshima Triangle?”
Mars Tsunuki
Kanosuke
Ontake
Who is Kanosuke distillery named after?
Sochu producer Komasa Jozo was founded in 1883. They built up great expertise in cask aging Sochu.
The second president of Komasa was Kanosuke Komasa who oversaw huge growth.
Kanosuke was the grandfather of Yoshitsugu Komasa who founded the whiskey distillery.
Where is Konosuke distillery located?
Kagoshima Prefecture
Whisky Distillery was built next to three warehouses that were previously used to age Sochu.
It’s about 100m from the East China Sea and next to Fukiage beach (longest beach in Japan.
Where did Yoshitsuga Komasa study whisky making?
Whisky School at Strathearn Distillery in May of 2016.
The staff visited several distilleries in Scotland and were particularly inspired by the compact layout at Ballindalloch.
What is the unique process that Kanosuke uses to enhance their fermentations?
Kumikake - recirculating of liquid while making the fermentation starter.
A small amount of the wash at the end of fermentation (day 5) is added to the wash back containing wash two days younger. To enhance secondary lactic fermentation and bring out fruitier flavors.
How is Kanosuke’s grain whisky made?
In 2020 Kanosuke acquired a license to distill grain whisky at their Hioki grain distillery (about 10 minutes away) so they could make their own blended whisky without sourcing grain whisky.
The grain distillate is batch distilled and made entirely from barley (90% unmalted / 10% malted).
Double distilled in stainless steel shochu stills - then filled into wood and aged.
How are the 3 stills at Kanosuke used in different combinations to produce a variety of spirits?
Left = 6kl horizontal Lynette arm
Middle = 3kl downward LA
Left = 1.6kl (latern shaped) upward LA
Left is exclusively used as wash still
right is exclusively used as spirits still
Middle used for either
So combinations are:
Left + middle
Middle + Right
Left + Right
Always double distilled and then different distillate types are vatted before going into barrels.
