Tag Archives: Kanosuke Whisky

Kuala Lumpurs Best Whisky Bars! 61Monarchy and Ba by 61Monarchy Q&A with Chris Chai! 400+ Whiskies!

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G’day folks,
In todays YouTube video here, I have a Q&A with Chris Chai of 61Monarchy and Ba by 61 Monarchy, Kuala Lumpur. We chat a little bit about Chris’s background, then deep dive into the history of the bars, plus what you can expect when you visit. If you are ever in KL, do yourselves a huge favour and check out these bars. With 400+ whiskies as well other other beverages, they really are world class and a must do for any lover of fine spirits. Super nice people as well!
Addresses and drinks menu are in the description of the video.
Kampai
Brian

Kanosuke New Born Peated 24mths White Oak Casks 58%abv

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Nose: There is peat but not at the expense of a fruity core. Apricots, peaches, nectarines, apples. The peat is mostly of the earthy kind. Vanilla, varnish, fermented pears, leather, tobacco and it’s very well balanced. Some incense with water added.
Palate: Delicious. Sweet and eathy peat. Apricots, white nectarines, lychees, red apples, sweet tobacco, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla. Sarah Lee Apple Crumble. There’s some white pepper and fresh ginger. Dare I say mature? The balance remains on the palate. There’s a bunch of fruit candies with water added. Medium bodied.
Finish: Apples, pears, leather, tobacco, oak, earthy peat. The apple crumble with water added then some late engine oil.
Last Word: A marvel at this young age! Balanced, complex and has even more to give than my notes suggest.

Rating: 90/100

Kanosuke New Born 18mths Bourbon Casks 57%abv

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Nose: Wild flowers, pollen, wood shavings, pepper, honey, vanilla. A medley of tropical fruits, dried mango, pineapple, passionfruit, banana. With water the wildflowers and passionfruit dominate.
Palate: Honey, sherbet, apple pie crust, vanilla, salt, wild flowers. Dried mango, oranges, ginger, banana. Dare I say smooth! With water the body fills out and there is more pepper, salt and ginger, also cloves.
Finish: Dried mango, dried pears, sawmill floor, a little clove, dried plantain. A little drier and herbaceous with water also vanilla wafers.
Last Word: Mind blowing stuff at this young age that already displays a really exotic edge. I rated the 8mth New Born highly and this one moves the goal posts forward again.

Rating: 88/100

The Japanese Whisky Review – 500 Japanese Whiskies Tasted!

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So what does it take for the average self funded Japanese Whisky Aficionado to reach 500 Japanese Whiskies tasted? 10 years, being in the right place at the right time, spending time on the ground in Japan making contacts, unwavering enthusiasm and a whole lot of hard earned cash!
How hard was it? That is a story of 2 parts. The “Glory” days between May 2009 (the first time I visited Japan) and roughly 2014 and the leaner times after that of rocketing prices and limited availability.
Getting to 100 was relatively easy. 200 wasn’t that hard either. From memory even 300 wasn’t too bad. Beyond that it felt like hitting a brick wall and if your’e like me and just an average middle class Joe, you already know the reasons why. I won’t rehash here recent Japanese Whisky history and why prices are so high and stock levels/variety so limited, there are enough stories on the net using a simple Google search.
The majority of Japanese Whiskies I’ve tasted have been drinkable at the very least all the way up to stellar. There have been some total duds of coarse which is to be expected.
Favorite distillery style is from Yoichi and I admire Yamazaki and Chichibu for innovation and at least when you can get them, variety. Most often imbibed daily dram is Nikka From the Barrel.
Most underrated distillery in Miyagikyo and most overrated is Karuizawa. I’ve tasted about the same amount of bottling’s from Mars Whisky as I have Karuizawa and overall I’d choose Mars any day. I’ll throw in a number of Hanyu Card series as overrated at least for the price they command these days.
For those wondering if there will ever be a return to the “Glory” days of cheap prices, easy access and lots of variety I’m going to have to be the bearer of bad tiding’s. As long as supply exceeds demand no way! Not only that, even when the big players Suntory and Nikka bring a variety of age statement whiskies back on line they have repeatedly said they see their products as premium. This means they will continue to charge commensurate premium prices compared to say, Scottish whiskies of the same age and availability. I do look forward however to the 3 year old bottling’s that will be released in 2020 from the newer distilleries such as Akkeshi, Shizuoka, Kanosuke and Mars Tsunuki. 2020 will also be banner year for Chichibu who will release their first official 10 year old whisky.
Finally I’ll list 25 Japanese Whiskies that aren’t daily drams that I would always love to have a stash of. These are whiskies that left an immediate impression and haven’t failed since.
Hibiki 21
The Hakushu SM Aged 15 Years 500ml 56%
The Hakushu Single Malt Sherry Cask #9O 50021 1989 TWE 62%
Suntory Owners Cask Hakushu 2000-2011 #EL 41914 Smoky & Bitter 57%
Suntory Owners Cask Bar Hermit Private Stock Yamazaki 1996 Sherry Butt 13YO #AX70004 60%
The Cask of Yamazaki 1993 Heavily Peated #3Q70047 62%
Suntory Blended Whisky For The Peninsula Tokyo 2014 43% Sherry Casks of Yamazaki, Hakushu, Chita
Miyagikyo Single Cask 1996 16YO Sherry Cask 60% #118913
Taketsuru Pure Malt 35YO
Yoichi Single Cask 1994 18YO #400749 Warehouse 25 62%
Yoichi Single Cask 1988-2013 23YO Warehouse 25 #100212 62%
Yoichi Peaty and Salty 1989 12YO Single Cask #251224 63.3%abv
Yoichi 20
Karuizawa 1992 #6978 62.8%
Mars Moltage 3 and 25 28YO 46%
Mars Malt Gallery 1985 23YO #324 American White Oak 58%
Mars Komagatake Single Cask Vintage 1989 23YO 63.5% Cognac Limousin Cask #1060
Mars Komagatake　27 years old Sherry Casks / American White Oak Cask 46%
Kawasaki Single Grain Sherry Butt 1982 28YO # 7414 65.5%
Chichibu Mizunara Puncheon Cask # 89 2008-2017 58.2%
Ichiro’s Malt 8 of Clubs 1988 23YO #7100 57.5
Ichiro’s Malt The Game 2000 9YO 61.2%
Ichiro’s Malt SC for Takashimaya 1991 18YO 46.5%
The Single Malt Chichibu Golden Horse 12-year-old, Bottle # 0263 2008 56%
Ichiro’s Malt and Grain Kiyosato Field Ballet 26th Anniversary Bottling 48%abv

Kanosuke New Born 2018 8mths Old Aged In White Oak Casks 58%abv

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P1050415Nose: Fruity and Malty. Apricots, nectarines, rhubarb, white grapes. The expected vanilla and toffee. Dusty virgin White Oak barrels. An amazing lack of strong acetone notes for one so young. A flower like perfume note, some nutmeg spice and white pepper. If you think your nasal passages are going to be blown apart by a cask strength new make whisky guess again, not with this one!
Palate: It’s initially very punchy with a strong attack of wood spices. Some licorice/licorice oil, pepper, chili flakes. Tends to mellow out over time with Fuji pears, lychees, salted cashews and sugared pie crust. Sit with this for an hour and the palate gets better and better with each sip.
Finish: Initially peppery, then moves to sweeter notes of vanilla and almonds, followed by agave and yeast.
Last Word: I don’t usually mention color but this 8 months old new make has a fabulous golden hew that any 12 year old whisky matured in White Oak casks would be proud of! And yes, this is non chill filtered, non colored.
My impression at 8 months is that this could be a killer whisky at even 3-4 years! The most impressive Japanese New Make ‘Whisky’ I’ve tasted since Chichibu’s New Born Heavily Peated 2009.
Exiting Stuff!
Kanosuke Distillery Website
Rating: 85/100

Buying Japanese Whisky in Japan 2019 Report

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The 2018 report was once again the most viewed post on the Japanese Whisky Review. Not surprising that given the Japanese Whisky drought, even more folks are keen to know where and when stuff is available. Comments were up by almost 200 on the 2017 report with 631 vs 433. A big shout out to all those who commented, especially the regulars!
I think we all know 2019 will be at least as tough buying Japanese Whisky in Japan as 2018 but every contribution counts so please keep the comments coming this year. I know from personal experience I was able to grab a number of bottles in 2018 that I would have missed out on if readers hadn’t advised of pending releases!
Kampai
Brian AKA Dramtastic