Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still Japanese Whisky
Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still Japanese Whisky is a 102-proof (51% ABV) Japanese pot still whisky in a 700mL bottle — an Irish-style grain whisky made from malted and unmalted barley, distilled in a stainless steel pot still with vacuum distillation borrowed from shochu production. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 102 proof (51% ABV)
- Size: 700mL
- Grain bill: malted and unmalted barley, Irish pot still style
- Distillation: stainless steel pot still with vacuum distillation (shochu method) at Hioki Distillery, Kagoshima, Japan
- Character: stone fruit, citrus, vanilla and almond
Shochu Techniques, Whisky Rules
Hioki is the Komasa family's second distillery, and it makes whisky the way the family has always made shochu: a stainless steel pot still run under vacuum, which lowers the boiling point and keeps delicate aromatics intact. The mash is malted and unmalted barley in the Irish pot still tradition, and the result is a grain whisky with none of the neutrality people expect from the category — fruity, creamy and quietly complex. It is also one half of the Kanosuke Double Distillery blend; this bottle is the component on its own. See the full Japanese whisky collection at Del Mesa.
Tasting Notes
Per the brand's profile: stone fruit and citrus on the nose with vanilla; a creamy palate of orchard fruit, almond and soft vanilla; a clean, gently spiced finish.
How to Enjoy
Neat to appreciate the vacuum-distillation clarity, or as a highball — the citrus and stone-fruit notes were practically built for soda and ice. A few drops of water open the almond and vanilla.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Japanese pot still whisky?
Whisky distilled in a pot still from a mix of malted and unmalted barley — the Irish pot still tradition, here made with Japanese shochu distillation techniques.
What is vacuum distillation?
Distilling under reduced pressure so the spirit boils at a lower temperature, preserving delicate fruit aromatics that high heat would strip away.
Is Hioki related to Kanosuke?
Yes — both distilleries are run by the Komasa family in Kagoshima; Hioki's pot still whisky is blended with Kanosuke single malt in the Double Distillery expression.
Curious how shochu craft translates into whisky? Order Kanosuke Hioki Pot Still online from Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.