Jinzu Premium Gin (UK) / 41.3% / 0.7l

Jinzu Gin is the creation of Dee Davies, an English bartender and winner of the Diageo "Show Your Spirit Competition" in 2013.

The gin went on sale the following November, billed as “British gin with a Japanese twist.” Its name refers to the Jinzu River, which flows through the city of Toyama and is lined with more than a thousand cherry trees. Jinzu is made by macerating juniper berries, coriander seeds, and angelica root in grain alcohol, to which cherry blossoms and yuzu are added just before final distillation. The producer does not disclose the full list of botanicals. The distillate is then blended with Junmai sake and diluted to 41.3% abv before bottling. Jinzu is produced in Scotland at Diageo’s Cameronbridge Distillery.

In its aromatic bouquet, this gin combines notes of mandarins, pine needles and cherry blossoms with a touch of coriander and mint. In the taste, citrus and floral notes, limes, pink grapefruits, juniper and a distinct trace of sake. Dee Davies, creator of Jinzu, recommends serving it with Fever Tree Indian tonic with a quarter of a green apple; we also enjoyed it in a Negroni.