The Apotheosis of Citrus Gin
Featured Story
The global spirits scene has been captivated by the Japanese gin phenomenon, largely due to the innovative use of indigenous botanicals that truly capture and convey a rich sense of place. Kyoya Yuzu Gin stands as a stellar example of this movement, offering a complex and richly layered profile unlike any other.
What sets Kyoya Yuzu Gin apart is its base spirit. In a move that honors their deep-rooted history, Kyoya Distillery crafts this gin using a sweet potato shochu base—a highly uncommon practice in the world of gin. This foundation imparts a lovely, textural richness and an earthy complexity to the final spirit. This depth provides a perfect counterpoint to the bright, exhilarating notes of yuzu and other exotic citrus and botanicals that define the gin's flavor.
Renowned for their exceptional sweet potato shochu production, Kyoya Distillery's venture into gin distillation was a natural extension of their expertise. The distillery employs small 200-liter stainless Japanese stills. In a time-intensive and meticulous process, the botanicals are fermented and distilled separately. This method allows the distillers unparalleled control, enabling precise flavor adjustments and optimal extraction from each individual botanical component, ultimately crafting a perfectly balanced final spirit.
Kyoya Distillery masterfully showcases its regional terroir through the inclusion of exotic, hyper-local, and often rare botanicals native to the Miyazaki region. This commitment to local sourcing is what gives the gin its remarkable uniqueness. Key botanicals include Yuzu (obviously), Hyuganatsu & Hybess (two rare local citrus varieties), and Sansho Pepper.
While the gin is wonderful served neat, its complexity truly shines in classic cocktails like a Gin & Tonic or, as featured here, a Gimlet. It serves as a truly refreshing and compelling alternative to more traditional dry gins.
To elevate the bright, characteristic yuzu notes of the gin, we’ve paired it with Root 23 Yuzu Citrus Simple Syrup. This is the essential ingredient for crafting a perfectly balanced Gimlet. Made with organic cane sugar, water, yuzu juice, and lime juice concentrate, this syrup adds a natural and refreshing citrus twist to your cocktail, harmonizing seamlessly with the gin’s botanicals.
Completing the complexity of the cocktail are Ms. Betters Lime Leaf Bitters. These unique single botanical bitters offer a fresh, clean, and deeply aromatic accent. They are specially formulated to add a layer of earthy, sophisticated complexity to cocktails. They are particularly ideal for tropical drinks, sours, and daisies, lending a flavor profile reminiscent of Asian cuisine.
