Roku Gin

Blind gin tasting, Sydney, April 20, 2019. On Saturday I took part in a blind tasting of 9 gins. Gin #2 was Roku, and it rated equal 2nd in the scoring alongside Scapegrace Gold. The tasting group members all remarked on the presence of complex seed spices in the nose - coriander, cumin, allspice etc. along with an unusual dusky and fragrant citrus note. One taster noted "green tea" and another "chamomile and pine needles". The palate was enthusiastically described as "creamy soft", "spicy", "both astringent and oily", "well textured" and as featuring a very nice juniper heart with spicy and fragrant herbal notes. The length was noted by everyone as being outstanding. When it was revealed afterwards that this sells here for just $10 more than Bombay Sapphire it was unanimously voted the best value gin of the tasting. The average rating was just over 4 points. My tasting notes: Nose: Yuzu, lemon, tangerine, mandarin, lime. Herbal and fragrant soft juniper. Faint maritime notes (fish scales?), cypress twigs, evergreen forest. Palate: A perfect entry. Soft, herbal and citrus in equal measure. A dry fruity juniper note emerges in the development accompanied by a sweet light pepper. A wonderful tannic undertone throughout and very good texture. Finish: Medium/long. The well balanced fruity/herbal dryness fades perfectly into a slightly sweet/spicy tannin aftertaste. "Very Good" : 87/100 (4.25 stars)

Smells amazing and tastes delicious. But I can't smell Sakura or whatever Japanese botanicals

Much fruitier than normal gin, less juniper. Very nice

very light and crisp. no burn. I don't really taste the botanicals with it straight on ice. It would probably be nice with a good quality tonic or ginger ale.

Holy Cow...Move over Hendrick's. You've been replaced as my "outside the box" Gin. My gin preferences tend to lean more to the traditional side (Beefeater, Broker's, Plymouth) but I do enjoy something experimental when the temperature starts to change. The nose on Roku is incredible, dominated by Citrus Peel (I'll assume that's the Yuzu pairing so well with the lemon since I've never encountered an actual Yuzu fruit) and florals. The juniper is there (I wouldn't say in abundance, but there is plenty) if you search for it, and plays very well with the other botanicals. All those notes translate so well to the palate with a little cinnamon-y/piney spice on the finish. My gin consumption is limited to Martinis and G&T's, but I can definitely see myself enjoying this one chilled or over ice with no mixer. It also retails for about $10 less than Hendrick's. My gin shelf is starting to get as crowded as my whiskey shelf.