In recent weeks the world has been raving about the venturing into gin making, and many have made their own predictions about how successful this new movement will be. One thing is for sure, Japanese gin is turning more than a few head in the spirits world. 

We’ve also been keeping a close eye on what’s happening in the Japanese gin industry, to keep our readers clued up on the latest news.

Now, after all the talk, a Gold award has been given to Kyoto Distillery’s flagship gin, the Ki No Bi. The predictions for Japanese gin are starting to come to fruition, as it has gained recognition at one of the most popular spirit competitions in the world.

Ki No Bi

The Ki No Bi was described by the IWSC judges in the most wonderful way.

“Aromatic pepper on the nose with a delicate sweetness, zesty citrus, and cherry blossom. To taste, an intricate blend of botanicals, starting with dry earthiness and moving onto spicy coriander. More citrus peel notes follow, then comes a blooming burst of cherry blossom that is both soft and elegantly sweet. In contrast, the finish is dry and piney, with a light glow of peppercorns.”

We should mention that the Ki No Bi doesn’t contain cherry blossom in its botanical profile, so the judge’s description is a little confusing. But nonetheless, the Ki No Bi is a spectacular gin, and truly deserved the award in the Contemporary Gin category.

Since its inception in 2016, the Ki No Bi has been in the spotlight as the first artisanal Japanese gin. We’re extremely glad to see it’s getting well-deserved recognition worldwide, and look forward to seeing this wonderful gin rack up more awards.

The Kyoto Distillery team use a very unique distillation method, where each botanical is distilled separately and then blended together. Many traditional botanicals in gin making are used, as well as a few Japanese ones found locally in and around the city of Kyoto.

Everything is about the local community when it comes to the Kyoto Distillery, and we feel this dedication to Japanese craft and culture is what brought home the gold.

Cheers to Japanese gin!