Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still Review
In-Depth Review
Chichibu. Akkeshi. Kanosuke. For many diehard enthusiasts, these distilleries are the future for Japanese whisky. While Kanosuke may be unfamiliar to most, this small brand out of southern Japan represents a new side to Japanese whisky – one that embraces what enthusiasts are demanding. High proof. Transparency. Experimentation.
Despite having almost 140 years of history in shochu, Kanosuke whisky distillery was only built in 2018, situated along the Fukiagehama Beach on the west coast of Kagoshima Prefecture. Since then, they have managed to produce high proof malts and blends that push past the stereotypes of gentle and approachable Japanese whisky and lean more towards the fiery, untamed waters of the East China Sea. Despite having “mellow land, mellow whisky” on the label, these whiskies are regularly bottled at 59% ABV and above – flying in the face of most of the Japanese whisky industry.
But today we are going to dive into one of their core expressions called Hioki Pot Still. This is a non-age stated whisky that rings in at 51% ABV, uses malted and unmalted barley, and retails for around $109. As described by Kanosuke themselves:
This new single grain whisky comes from {Kanosuke’s} sister distillery Hioki. Named for its city of residence, Hioki Distillery is about 5 minutes inland from Kanosuke and home to Komasa Jyozo's gin production. Taking inspiration from some of Ireland's most beloved whiskies while adding a definitively Japanese twist, the Hioki Pot Still is a mixed mash bill of malted and unmalted barley. Instead of using traditional copper pot stills for this expression, Hioki has opted to use a stainless steel pot still used for shochu production.
This is the kind of experimentation that is often lacking from the rest of the Japanese whisky industry. So how does it come together in the bottle? Let’s dive in and find out.
Age: Non-Age Stated
ABV: 51%
Cask: Mix of new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels
MSRP: $109.00
Distillery Name: Kanosuke Distillery
Review Date: 6/22/26
Color: Light Gold
Nose: The nose starts off light and fruity, with white grape, lemon peel, and apple skin. As it settles, wheat crackers and a bit of acidity poke through and round it out. There’s an undeniable heat pouring out from the glass but it somehow remains approachable and light.
Palate: The palate is a rush of warm vanilla, almond paste, and waves upon waves of honey. It’s bright – almost bordering on metallic at times – but features streaks of cherry and lemon cream that appear through the midpalate. The initial heat remains - leading to a less rounded and balanced profile than I was expecting. But the buttery, warming mouthfeel is fantastic – a high point of the entire experience.
Finish: Long finish that can lean towards graininess but gives pops of ginger chews, oak, and more metallic minerality. A big sip will give a deep warming feeling in the chest that lingers long between each sip.
Final Thoughts: If you’ve never had anything from Kanosuke, this Hioki Pot Still expression is a great place to start. It feels like it’s built for the American palate – with a fiery vanilla and honey profile accentuated by a gorgeously buttery mouthfeel. However, with its strong heat and (likely) young component whiskies – it can sometimes come off as unbalanced and grain forward.
Despite what the label says, this is anything but mellow – which is great to see from a young Japanese distillery that could have just as easily leaned into the mellow and approachable stereotype. As Kanosuke itself matures, I expect this expression to get even better as they include slightly older, more rounded components to the blend. But even today, Hioki is a fantastic introduction to one of the most exciting new distilleries coming out of Japan.
