Japan: Diageo invests in Japan’s Komasa Kanosuke Distillery

Japanese whisky maker Komasa Kanosuke Distillery has announced investment by Diageo through Distill Ventures, the Market Screener reported on September 8.

Kanosuke Distillery was founded by Komasa Jyozo Co., Ltd in 2017. A corporate split in August 2021 separated the distillery and all whisky assets into the Komasa Kanosuke Distillery Co., Ltd, and Diageo have taken a minority interest in this new company. The distillery benefits from the 138 years of tradition of the parent company in distilling shochu from rice and sweet potatoes. It pioneered the barrel-ageing of shochus, with its Mellow Kozuru brand receiving numerous awards in Japan and internationally.

The distillery was built on land acquired by Kanosuke Komasa, the second President of Komasa Jyozo Co., Ltd. Yoshitsugu Komasa, the fourth president, developed the whisky project and built the distillery, with distillation commencing in 2017. It houses three pot stills with variations in neck shapes and lyne arms, allowing for the creation of different flavours in the distillation process. The custom-designed bottle mirrors the shape of the principal spirit still.

All production at Kanosuke Distillery is of single malt whisky using non-peated and peated malted barley imported from the UK. Maturation includes the use of barrels previously used to age the parent company's Mellow Kozuru rice shochu, alongside ex-bourbon barrels and a range of different wine barrels.

Established in 2013, Distill Ventures is the drinks industry's first accelerator for new and growing brands. Its aim is to support entrepreneurs to develop, scale and sell the drinks brands of the future. Through a combination of cash investment, mentoring support, and access to a network of experts, Distill Ventures works with founders to help brands go further, faster. Distill Ventures operates across many drinks categories and invests at all stages, from pre-launch (or 'seed' businesses) through to those requiring significant expansion capital. It is operated independently and has a partnership with Diageo, who provide the investment funding, as well as access to their global network of experts.

To date, Distill Ventures has invested more than $100 million in 15+ drinks brands including: Seedlip, the world's first non-alcoholic distilled spirits brand; Denmark's Stauning, one of Europe's standout new whiskies; Starward, a distinctive Australian whisky, exclusively matured in Australian wine barrels; and Westward Whiskey, a pioneer in American Single Malt.

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