Although it is not something that one celebrates with much fanfare, there is a canned highball that one would like to pick up at a convenience store when one stops by on a whim, such as when one wants to work hard for one’s self. At 660 yen per 350 ml can, including tax, it is not a cheap convenience store highball. Even so, one is tempted to pick one up because of its mellow, sweet aroma and spicy flavor, which are distinctly different from the usual staples. In this article, we will introduce the appeal of “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball” as a slightly special bottle available at convenience stores.
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What is Kanosuke Single Malt Highball?A Lawson-exclusive highball can in which you can enjoy Japan's pride and joy in today's hottest craft whiskey
The “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball” is a highball can made with “Kanosuke Single Malt” from the Kanosuke Distillery in Kagoshima and sold at approximately 14,000 Lawson stores nationwide from the end of April 2026. The greatest appeal of this new product is that it is a highball that can be purchased at convenience stores. Craft whiskey is a whiskey made by small distilleries that reflects their philosophy and commitment. The distillery’s local climate and unique manufacturing methods are reflected in every aspect of the whiskey, including the aroma, taste, and aftertaste. The Kanosuke Distillery in Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture, is an essential part of Japanese craft whiskey. Kanosuke Single Malt, the flagship of the Kanosuke Distillery, was the first Japanese whiskey to win the “COOL JAPAN AWARD 2025 (Outbound Category),” which evaluates and recognizes products and regional culture that are the pride of Japan from a foreigner’s perspective.
If the canned highballs of major manufacturers are a part of everyday life with their affordable price, stable quality, and easy-to-drink taste, “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball” is an easy way to enjoy a highball of craft whiskey that is full of the passion and character of the Kanosuke distillery. The price is a premium, 660 yen for 350 ml including tax, but it seems like a good deal when you consider that you can enjoy a can of Kanosuke Single Malt Highball, which normally costs 9,900 yen including tax for 700 ml.
The following is an in-depth look at the appeal of the “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball,” along with the author’s own impressions as an actual drinker.
Kanosuke Single Malt Highball Attraction 1
The attraction of the “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball” is above all that it uses “Kanosuke Single Malt” as its base. The base of the highball is “Kanosuke Single Malt. Kanosuke Single Malt is a single malt Japanese whiskey produced by the Kanosuke Distillery in Hioki City, Kagoshima Prefecture. The Kanosuke distillery is operated by Komasa Brewery, which was founded in 1883 and has been producing authentic shochu (Japanese distilled spirit) with its roots in the production of sacred sake for shrines. Whiskey production itself began in earnest in 2017, and although itshistory is short, it has in its background the fermentation, distillation, and maturation techniques cultivated through years of shochu production.
An essential part of the story of such Kanosuke single malt is the use of barrels, which is unique to shochu breweries. The key malt is made from sake aged in “shochu litchi casks,” in which the inside of the casks used by Komasa Brewery to age its shochu liquor are charred by an open fire. This gives it a spicy flavor with a somewhat Japanese flair. In addition, Kanosuke Distillery takes a longer time for fermentation than most Scotch whiskies, which gives it a fruity aroma. The sweet aroma, spicy flavor, and other elegant Japanese nuances can be enjoyed in the highball cans available at Lawson stores.
Kanosuke Single Malt Highball Attraction 2The only ingredients are whiskey and carbonation. You can enjoy the mellow, sweet aroma straight away.
Another attraction of the “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball” is that its ingredients consist only of whiskey and carbonation. Most of the standard canned highballs sold by major manufacturers use lemon spirits, flavorings, acidifiers, and other ingredients to make them refreshing, have a sharp aftertaste, and are easy to drink as a mealtime drink. On the other hand, the “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball” is made with only whiskey and carbonation, allowing the mellow, sweet aroma unique to Kanosuke Single Malt to be enjoyed as it is through the highball.
Attraction of Kanosuke Single Malt High ball 3Familiarity: Available at approximately 14,000 Lawson stores nationwide that carry liquor
Familiarity is another attraction of “Kanosuke Single Malt Highball,” which is available at approximately 14,000 Lawson stores that carry liquor nationwide. In recent years, premium highball cans using long-established brands of Japanese whiskey, such as Yamazaki and Hakushu, have appeared, but in many cases they are available in limited quantities, and few people have actually been able to obtain one at a convenience store. However, this product is available only at Lawson, but on a nationwide scale, and you can get the highball using Kanosuke Single Malt, which has been highly acclaimed at domestic and international awards, in your daily shopping line.
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