Gin boom in Japan - what we can expect from Nippon
Sep 03, 2017
Gin boom arrives in Japan - what we can expect from Nippon
No question: gin is in. Having arrived in Germany around six years ago, gin lovers are more than familiar with their favorite spirit. Drinking gin, mainly in the form of gin and tonic, has almost become an art form. Many different ways of drinking are tried out, and there are no limits to the imagination. Producers are becoming increasingly creative in the production of gin, so it is hardly surprising that more and more new producers are entering the tonic market with new flavors, be it cherry blossom, cardamom or citrus flavors. But back to gin! Combining gin with fresh cucumber is almost out of fashion; juniper berries, basil, thyme, rosemary, elderflower, rose petals or whole sprigs of lavender are now in demand for decorating and refining gin tonics. There are countless ways to refine this long drink. Conclusion: More and more new types of gin are flooding onto the market, more and more types of tonic and more and more new recipes for cocktails with gin. What is commonplace here and almost everyday life in bars has now also reached Japan. Instead of being reduced to just good whisky, Nippon is now going on the offensive and aims to build on its whisky success with the production of exotic gins. And the use of traditional Japanese botanicals, i.e. flavors that are added to the gin to create its individual taste, is sure to make the heart of every gin lover beat faster.
The first Japanese gin, which has been on the market in Japan since June 2016, is KOON Japanese Gin, produced by Hombo Shuzo, the distillery known for its famous Mars Whisky and based in Shinshu, 200 km from Tokyo. The gin, which is primarily characterized by the addition of yuzu fruit, juniper and botanicals from the Nagano region, has an alcohol content of 45% and tastes round and balanced. It can be enjoyed on its own or as a gin and tonic. It is a so-called "New Western Dry Gin", in which the juniper note is present, but is pushed into the background by other aroma carriers. It is not entirely clear why the word "Western" is used in addition to "New". There are no national or regional restrictions; it is produced in the USA as well as in Europe or even Asia. The KOON has been available to buy in our store since December 2016.
A short time later, in September 2016, Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin, produced by the Kyoto Distillery, was launched on the Japanese market. This is also a New Western Dry Gin, even though Ki No Bi only has the additional designation "Dry Gin" in its name. Aromas of hinoki wood shavings, green sansho pepper, bamboo leaves, gyokuro tea and yuzu define the flavor notes. Ki No Bi has recently become available to buy in various online stores in Germany. Until the middle of the year, only Austrians and the English were able to enjoy this delicious gin in Europe. Alcohol content: 45.7 %.
In the middle of this year, it became known that Japan's "big players" also want to get involved in the gin business. Suntory, one of the five largest drinks groups in the world, and Nikka, Japan's second largest whisky producer, each already have a gin on the market in the Land of the Rising Sun. Expansion into Europe is set to follow shortly.
Suntory's Roku, Japanese for the number "6" and available in Japan since the end of June 2017, stands out for its extravagant bottle with a label made from Japanese washi paper. The basis for this New Western Dry Gin is formed by six traditional Japanese botanicals - hence the name Roku, namely the blossom and leaf of the cherry tree, the peel of the citrus fruit yuzu, sencha tea, gyokuro tea and sansho pepper. The gin with 47% alcohol is expected to hit the stores in Germany in September 2017.
The New Western Dry Gin, which Nikka recently released in Japan, is also really interesting. Some of you may already be familiar with Nikka's Coffey line from the whisky sector (Nikka Coffey Malt and Nikka Coffey Grain). The brand new Nikka Coffey Gin will also be available in Germany in September 2017. It contains 11 botanicals such as juniper, angelica root, lemon and orange peel, coriander and typical Japanese ingredients such as yuzu, amanatsu, shīkuwāsā, kabosu and sansho pepper. It is bottled at 47% alcohol volume. Incidentally, Nikka has also launched Coffey Vodka alongside the gin, which - just as the Japanese like it - is particularly soft and smooth.
It is definitely worth trying Japanese gins. The Japanese are known for producing outstanding spirits. Japanese gins are produced with great care, innovation, precision and attention to detail, just as we are used to from Japanese whisky. It will be exciting to see whether the Japanese will once again succeed in overtaking one nation or another in the gin sector and achieving top marks worldwide.
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