Kanomori Gin

The distillers of Yomeishu have their distillery in Komagane in Nagano Prefecture, located in the middle of the Japanese Alps and just five kilometers from Hombo Shuzo's famous Mars Shinshu Distillery. The Japanese Alps are also reflected in the Kanomori gin's bottle label: the cut-out label shows the mountain line of the Central Alps. But the bottle is also an absolute eye-catcher in other respects. The embossed plant is one of the botanicals used, the Kuromoji fever bush, which has long been used as a traditional medicine in Japan.

The other botanicals are juniper, blackberry twig, lemon peel, apricot leaf, mulberry, sickle fir, Sichuan pepper, ginger, licorice, sage, cardamom, rosemary, bay leaf, orange peel, goji berry, spruce needles, angelica root, cinnamon and aniseed.

Despite its 47% vol., Kanomori Gin is very smooth and mild, and is characterized by an intense taste with a long finish. Gentle citrus notes are paired with finely selected herbs, literally transporting you into a "forest of aromas" from the very first sip. Kanomori can be enjoyed neat or as a gin & tonic. We recommend a neutral tonic, but a soda is even better. This gin is also a dream in cocktails.

Incidentally, Yomeishu uses equipment from Germany for the distillation process: the Holstein still from Markdorf on Lake Constance is used. Kanomori was awarded the gold medal at the World Gin Award 2025. It also won silver at the Tokyo Whisky & Sprits Competition 2025 and at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2019 in London.

Japanese gin
Net quantity: 700 ml
Alcohol content: 47% vol.
For sale to persons of legal age only
Importer: Ginza Berlin GmbH, Pfalzburger Straße 20, 10719 Berlin, Germany

Headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo, Yomeishu is best known in Japan for the eponymous "Yomeishu". It is Japan's oldest alcoholic herbal medicine, with a history dating back to 1602. Yomeishu has a wealth of experience in the use of plants and herbs in the production of alcohol. While many similar products such as Chartreuse or Jägermeister have moved away from their medicinal roots and have long been found in bars around the world, Yomeishu is still considered more of a medicinal drink and is sold in pharmacies across the country.
The Yomeishu production facility is located in Komagane in Nagano Prefecture, picturesquely situated in the Japanese Central Alps. The factory can also be visited. Surrounded by impressive nature, forests, mountains and streams, the plant is a wonderful playground for adults. There is, for example, a great restaurant, a farm store, an ice cream parlor, a sales room for Yomeishu products with the possibility of tasting and, of course, insights into the exciting production process. It's easy to spend a whole day here.
At the beginning of 2019, Yomeishu launched three craft spirits in addition to its main product and liqueurs: Kanomori gin, Kanoshizuku gin and a craft gin cocktail. Yomeishu is also keen to make a contribution to climate protection and had a solar park built in Tsurugashima City in Saitama Prefecture, north of Tokyo, in 2013. This generates electricity for 400 to 500 households every year.