Kanosuke Distillery is one of the most exciting voices in the new wave of Japanese whisky. Founded in 2017 by Komasa Jyozo, a storied shochu producer with roots stretching back to 1883, the distillery is located in Kagoshima, on the southern island of Kyushu. The project is driven by Yoshitsugu Komasa, who serves as founder and master blender, carrying forward a family legacy that spans more than 140 years of spirits craftsmanship. The distillery launched its first single malt whisky in 2021. Kanosuke is renowned for producing distinctively rich and mellow whiskies. Its single malts are delicately peated and crafted entirely in-house — mashed, fermented, distilled, and matured at the distillery. The team's deep expertise in shochu production, particularly the use of oak casks pioneered by the second-generation president Kanosuke Komasa, informs the distillery's approach to maturation and flavour development. The result is a style that feels both rooted in Japanese tradition and unmistakably contemporary. In 2021, the distillery attracted international attention when Diageo announced an investment in Komasa Kanosuke Distillery, underscoring its reputation as one of the most promising new producers in Japan.