Kanosuke Japan Warrior Series Number Two: A Red Wine Single Cask at 60%

The Series Continues

The Japan Warrior Series has its second edition: the Kanosuke 2020 Japan Warrior Series Number Two Cask Nr.23532. It was bottled to mark the tenth anniversary of its two bottlers, and the release is announced for 1 December 2026.

The first edition came out in 2017 with a Chichibu, the Chichibu 2009 Japan Warrior Series Number One Cask Nr.2369, which carried a white wine cask finish. The new edition puts the influence of a red wine cask at its centre.

The Cask

The whisky comes from a single red wine cask, number #23532. It was distilled in May 2020 and bottled in March 2026, after almost six years, at 60% ABV cask strength.

When it was bottled, it was the third oldest bottling from the distillery. Kanosuke makes its whisky entirely in Japan. The distillery in Kagoshima draws on the long distilling experience of the Komasa family.

A Samurai on Label and Box

The design follows on from the first edition, with illustrator Irina Vinnik returning to create it. A striking samurai motif links the bottle label and the black wooden box.

It is the first Kanosuke edition presented in a black wooden box.

The Tasting Notes

Nose: dark berries, ripe cherries and plums lead. Behind them come vinous notes, grape skins and a subtle spice.

Palate: juicy cherry fruit and dark berries meet the soft sweetness of ripe plums. The mouthfeel is full and supple. A fine bitterness reminiscent of plums and grape skins complements the fruit, and restrained spice rounds it off.

Finish: lingering and fruity, with cherries and dark berries. The sweetness fades slowly, leaving a light dryness and gentle spice.

Bottle Count and Availability

The full run is 263 bottles of 700 ml. On Spiritory it is listed as Kanosuke 2020 Japan Warrior Series Number Two Cask Nr.23532.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Kanosuke Japan Warrior Series Number Two?

The second edition of the Japan Warrior Series: a Kanosuke single cask from red wine cask #23532, bottled at 60% ABV cask strength and limited to 263 bottles.

When was the whisky distilled and bottled?

It was distilled in May 2020 and bottled in March 2026. The release is announced for 1 December 2026.

What does it taste like?

Dark berries, ripe cherries and plums on the nose, juicy cherry fruit with a full, supple mouthfeel on the palate, and a long, fruity finish with a light dryness and gentle spice.

Who created the design?

Illustrator Irina Vinnik, who also designed the first edition of the series. The samurai motif links the label and the black wooden box.