Product description
Kyoto Distillery was established in 2014 by Noriko Kakuda Croll, David Croll and Marcin Miller.
In the 1990s, Noriko and David were importers of Scotch whisky from small, private distilleries (Arran and Springbank) and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Marcin, in turn, was the editor-in-chief of Whisky Magazine, and later founded No. 1 Drinks Company, which took over the stock from the closed Karuizawa Distillery. After two years of experimentation, Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin debuted in October 2016 (its name means “the beauty of the four seasons”). The base of the gin is rice spirit, and the formula lists 11 botanical ingredients: juniper berries, orris root, akamatsu (red pine), yuzu, lemons, sanshō pepper, ginger, green tea, pachnotka, bamboo leaves and kinome (Japanese mountain pepper). The botanicals, divided into six groups (base, citrus, herbal, tea, fruity floral, and spices), are distilled separately, then blended and diluted with Fushimi water, a valued sake producer. In 2017 and 2019, Ki No Bi Kyoto Gin won gold medals at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
In the aromatic bouquet we discover a combination of citrus, green tea, juniper, pine needles and herbs; on the palate again citrus (yuzu and lemon peel), some herbs and spices (pepper and ginger). We recommend serving only with ice cubes or with premium tonic with the addition of lemon peel.