Kanosuke 2019 6 Year Old Single Cask #TC001 Drifters Toyohisa Shimazu – Whisky Mew

Description

Kanosuke 2019 6 Year Old Single Cask #TC001 Drifters Toyohisa Shimazu – Whisky Mew

Produced at the Kanosuke Distillery in Hioki, Kagoshima, this single malt represents a profound intersection of Japanese history, contemporary craft distilling, and popular culture. The release is a special collaboration with the manga series Drifters by Kouta Hirano, which has been serialised in Young King OURs since 2009. The label features the protagonist, Toyohisa Shimazu, a legendary Sengoku-period samurai.

The connection between the whisky and the character is rooted in the land itself. Toyohisa’s grave is located in Hioki City, the very home of the distillery. Historically, Toyohisa fought a desperate rearguard action at the Battle of Sekigahara to ensure his uncle, Yoshihiro Shimazu, could return safely to Satsuma. This legacy of bravery is still honoured in Hioki today through the annual “Myoenji-mairi” pilgrimage. This bottling serves as a liquid tribute to that heritage, bridging the historical Shimazu clan with the “Drifter” who battles in another world.

The spirit was selected by renowned whisky expert Hideo Yamaoka during a visit to the distillery in May 2025. This expression underwent a sophisticated dual-maturation process. Distilled in April 2019, it initially spent four years in Mellowed Kozuru rice shochu casks—a signature of Kanosuke’s parent company, Komasa Jyozo. In May 2023, the liquid was transferred to a Scotch whisky cask for further maturation, before being bottled in August 2025.

While the exact history of the Scotch cask remains a mystery, its influence is undeniable. The interaction suggests that the wood previously held a very long-aged Scotch, imparting a structural depth rarely seen in a 6-year-old spirit. Bottled at a natural cask strength of 58% ABV from single cask #TC001, this release yielded only 270 bottles. The result is a profile defined by a remarkably mature aroma and a woody, bitter complexity that yields a long, warming finish. This is a singular collaboration deeply tied to the spirit of Hioki.

Tasting Note

Nose: The bouquet offers a profound sense of maturity, lead by a distinct rancio character. There are rich notes of raisins on the vine and high-quality strawberry jam, underpinned by a subtle hint of yeast that adds a savoury complexity to the fruit-forward profile.

Palate: The entry is defined by a pleasant woody bitterness that provides an elegant structure. This is followed by the concentrated sweetness of ripe dried persimmon and the tart, chewy depth of dried apricots, creating a well-rounded and textured mouthfeel.

Finish: The experience concludes with a notably long and warming finish, where the fruit and oak notes slowly dissipate with refined persistence.

Overall: Having spent four years in rice shochu casks followed by a two-year secondary maturation in a Scotch whisky cask, this expression has developed an exceptional depth. The dark hue and remarkably mature profile suggest that the Scotch cask previously held a very long-aged spirit. It is a beautifully integrated whisky that balances the unique Kanosuke spirit with the seasoned influence of traditional oak.