Kanosuke 6 Year Old Manzanilla Cask – LAWSON Buyer’s Choice

Kanosuke 6 Year Old Manzanilla Cask – LAWSON Buyer’s Choice Edition Bottling Note

Kanosuke 6 Year Old Manzanilla Cask – LAWSON Buyer’s Choice is a single malt Japanese whisky produced by the Kanosuke Distillery. This limited release was created in collaboration with Lawson, one of Japan’s major convenience store chains, and only 573 bottles were filled. Unlike the distillery’s standard releases, this is a single cask bottling, offering a clearer expression of both the distillery character and the influence of the cask.

The spirit was distilled in November 2019 and is a non‑peated style matured entirely in a Manzanilla sherry cask. According to the back label, it was bottled in January 2026, giving it a full six years of maturation. It is presented at 59% ABV in cask strength, without dilution, capturing the whisky as it matured in Kagoshima’s warm climate.

Manzanilla is a dry style of sherry produced in the Andalusia region of southern Spain, and the character of this cask is reflected prominently in the whisky. Whereas the core Kanosuke single malt is composed from multiple casks, this release is drawn from a single cask, allowing the individuality of that cask to shine through. As it uses non‑peated spirit, the focus is firmly on the malt character and the cask influence rather than any smokiness.

According to Lawson’s whisky buyer and expert, Mr Yuji Kuramitsu, this bottling was released as part of a collaborative project aimed at introducing Kanosuke’s whisky to a wider audience.

Overall, the whisky can be described with notes such as dried fruits, fermented butter, woodiness, a rich and weighty body, and a long‑lasting finish. It is a limited single cask release that highlights the individuality of Manzanilla cask maturation and the depth provided by a cask strength presentation, showcasing another facet of the Kanosuke Distillery’s character.

Kanosuke 6 Year Old Manzanilla Cask – LAWSON Buyer’s Choice Edition Tasting Note

Nose: Toasty, woody and mellow on the first impression. Honey‑glazed toast, sultanas, a hint of honeyed ume and herbs. Deeper layers reveal a sweet, rounded aroma reminiscent of kijoshu (sweet sake).

Palate: Sweet and toasty, calling to mind karintō (Japanese brown sugar biscuits). The body is thick and weighty, with flavours of candied orange and buttery financiers.

Finish: Long and lingering, with sticky flavours reminiscent of lightly sweetened apple tart and strong black tea, wrapped in gentle woodiness.

Overall: A richly textured and expressive single cask Kanosuke, where the dry elegance of the Manzanilla cask meets the distillery’s soft, rounded spirit. The combination of cask strength intensity and sherry‑derived depth delivers a whisky that is both bold and refined, with a satisfying progression from sweet, toasty notes to a long, contemplative finish.