Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still Japanese Whisky

Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still Japanese Whisky is produced at the Hioki Distillery in Kagoshima Prefecture — a distillery established in 1883 with a long heritage in shochu production that expanded into whisky in 2020 using state-of-the-art stainless steel pot stills, inspired by traditional Irish whiskey production methods and positioned as a sister expression to the Kanosuke Distillery’s single malt program nearby.

The Hioki Distillery is located a short distance from the Kanosuke Distillery, both in Kagoshima in southern Kyushu. Hioki’s whisky production reflects the Irish influence directly — pot still whisky in the Irish tradition uses a mix of malted and unmalted barley in the still charge, producing the distinctive creaminess and spice that characterizes Irish pot still style. The stainless steel pot stills at Hioki produce a different spirit profile than copper pot stills — stainless steel preserves more of the grain character and produces a cleaner, less sulfur-removed spirit than copper’s catalytic effects. The resulting whisky offers a rare Japanese interpretation of a traditionally Irish production approach.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Delicate vanilla, oak, and subtle sweetness with the clean character of stainless pot still distillation
• Palate: Caramel, dried fruit, and a touch of spice — the pot still character contributing creaminess alongside the grain sweetness
• Finish: Long and satisfying — the pot still character sustained through a warm, refined close

Specs

• Distillery: Hioki Distillery, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan (est. 1883 shochu; whisky from 2020)
• Style: Japanese Pot Still Whisky — Irish-inspired production
• Stills: Stainless steel pot stills

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