Side by side
Hakushu 12 vs Kanosuke
Hakushu 12
28 positive (90%) · 3 mixed (10%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +90%
AI summary — not a quote
Hakushu 12 is highly regarded as a staple Japanese whisky, celebrated for its distinct "green" and herbal profile. Enthusiasts frequently describe it as a fresh, forest-like dram with notes of mint, grass, pear, and light peat. While it is often compared to its sibling, Yamazaki 12, many users prefer Hakushu for its unique crispness and sophisticated balance. However, recent sentiment is tempered by concerns over skyrocketing prices, which have led some to question its value proposition despite its high quality.
Pros
- Unique 'green' flavor profile featuring mint, grass, and pine
- Light, sophisticated peat and smoke that remains smooth
- Excellent complexity with a long, warm finish
- Widely considered a significant upgrade over the Non-Age Statement (NAS) version
Cons
- Market prices have increased significantly, impacting value for some
- Light peat may be a deterrent for those who prefer a completely unpeated profile
Top excerpts
We all agree our own blend would be 60-70% hakushu 12.
Hakushu 12 is one of my all-time favorite whiskies. I like it best among all the Hakushus I have tried, as I find that with further aging and/or more cask influences, you start to lose the unique "magic" of Hakushu, which (for me at least) is that leafy, light, ethereal, "springtime breeze in the mountain forest by a stream" vibe that I feel transports me to the mountainside location of the distillery. The 12 yr nails that perfectly for me.
h12 and h bittersweet are favorites of mine
Hakushu 12
Hakushu and Yamazaki 12, just above the price limit but are pretty much the most well known Japanese single malts for a reason
Kanosuke
30 positive (86%) · 5 mixed (14%) · 0 negative (0%)
Trust + time weighted: +86%
AI summary — not a quote
Kanosuke is widely regarded as a rising star and a "hidden gem" in the Japanese whisky industry, praised for delivering high quality and exceptional value that often rivals or exceeds more established, hyped brands. As a younger distillery, it is frequently compared to Mars and Akkeshi, with enthusiasts noting its unique flavor profiles that range from sweet and bourbon-like to lightly peated expressions.
Pros
- Excellent value-to-performance ratio within the current Japanese whisky market
- Unique and memorable flavor profiles, including a 100% barley expression that mimics bourbon characteristics
- Consistently high quality across both core offerings and limited releases
- Highly recommended as a superior alternative to more mainstream, expensive brands like Yamazaki
Cons
- Can be difficult to find, often requiring specialized retailers or travel to Japan
- Some expressions can taste "hot" on the initial neck pour and require time to breathe
Top excerpts
Kanosuke is always excellent to my tastes. The 2023 release on the end there was a lightly peated release and was quite unique and memorable.
The Kanosuke is really good too but it has a sweet flavor I'm not familiar with.
I am a huge fan of Kanosuke and I've had a few bars mention that their new 2024 Japan-Exclusive offering distilled at their Hioki Distillery is like they take on bourbon through japanese whisky (It is still 100% barley though).
As someone who drinks shochu, I pretty easily pick up the shochu influence in Kannosuke's malts. And while I like both whisky and shochu, I am not sure I appreciate them together, which makes my overall opinion of Kannosuke a little uncertain.
Probably one of the Kanosukes, any 3 of the cheaper ones are all single malts and very delicious.