Roku Gin

Smooth & Fruity

My go-to gin. Don't have much to compare it to.

With fever tree tonic

I think Japanese culture is beautiful. A family member gifted this bottle of Roku gin to me with acknowledgment of that particular sentiment. This bottle is hexagonal and embossed with the 6 Japanese botanicals involved in this infusion. It's eye-catching! The nose shares the subtle botanical mix paired with a refreshing mineral quality, like being near waves crashing onto a beach. This gin is quite smooth and rich. I do pick up some sansho pepper heat at the tip my tongue, but it's not anywhere as abrasive as gins can feel. The initial taste is lightly sweet and floral, followed by slight salinity. This is likely from the sakura flower and yuzu peel used in its botanical mix. The finish is more of a feeling than a flavour: Slightly warming in the chest, moderate in length. I can taste a gentle wink of the sencha and gyokuro teas that feel grounding and peaceful. The yuzu comes back while I inhale deeply. Objectively, this gin has a very neutral flavour. I would have loved to taste more nuances of their botanicals, given how unique the ingredient combination is. This might be a solid gin option for people who have distrust in juniper, but I look forward to experimenting with its use in cocktails. 7.5/10

Really good, you can taste the yuzu and other botanicals. Incredibly smooth with a warmth at the end.