Located alongside Fukiagehama Beach (the longest sand beach in Japan), Kanosuke distillery was founded in 2017 and began production in the capable hands of president and master distiller, Yoshitsugu Komasa. The area is becoming known for its whisky production as Mars’ Tsunuki distillery is also located on the same street. Part of the historic Komasa Jyozo company, Kanosuke is equipped with three pot stills, each with different neck shapes and lyne arm angles. This allows the distillery to experiment and create different styles of spirit for single malt and blending. In September 2021 it was announced that Distill Ventures, part of the drinks giant, Diageo, had joined the fledgling project as a 50:50 minority investor. This move saw Kanosuke distillery join the likes of Denmark’s Stauning and Australia’s Starward distillery in the Distill Ventures portfolio of whisky brands. The first single malt release from the Kanosuke distillery debuted in June 2021.

This single malt was distilled on each of the three stills at the distillery and matured in re-charred American white oak casks.