Etsu Handcrafted Deep Ocean Japanese Gin / 45%/ 0.7l
- Etsu Japanese Gin is made at the Asahikawa Distillery located on the island of Hokkaido, the most northern prefecture in Japan.
Product description
Etsu Gin (“etsu” translates from Japanese to “joy”) is produced by the somewhat enigmatic Asahikawa Distillery based on the island of Hokkaido.
The distillery is owned by Oenon Holdings Inc. and specializes in the production of sake, shōchu, and liqueurs. The rights to the Etsu brand are held by BBC Spirits, a Bordeaux-based company that (we assume) has contracted Asahikawa to distill the gin. The Etsu gin formula includes bitter oranges, licorice, angelica root, coriander, Japanese Sanshō pepper, tea leaves, yuzu (a local fruit somewhat similar to grapefruit), juniper, and a few ingredients that the producer does not disclose. In turn, in the production of Etsu Deep Ocean, in addition to water flowing down from the Taisetsu Mountains, a small amount of salt water from the Sea of Japan is used. The botanicals are macerated for 24 hours in neutral alcohol, and distillation takes place in a copper still.
Etsu Deep Ocean is a unique gin, where floral and citrus elements are balanced by the breath of the ocean, and the image is completed by juniper, pepper, coriander, licorice and a touch of pine needles. This gin should be enjoyed only with ice or a delicate premium tonic.