This botanical gin hails from Kagoshima, Japan, home to both the Komasa Gin Distillery and a tiny type of local mandarin orange called the Sakurajima komikan. Sakurajima is the name of an active volcano in Kagoshima and is where these oranges grow in its volcanic soils and reach sizes of about 4cm in diameter. Each ripe fruit is packed with a mellow fragrance and the thick, sweet taste of citrus. Komasa Sakurajima Komikan Gin is crafted with generous amounts of these fragrant oranges, resulting in a bright, gentle spirit that truly shines with fresh notes of citrus.

Yamazakura is a new release from Sasanokawa distillery, dating back to 1765 with recognised sake and schochu. Based in the city of Koriyama Sasanokawa expanded into whisky in the 1940s. This represents a high-end complement to their entry level whisky range ('Yama' means 'mountain' and 'Sakura' means cherry tree, hence the beautiful label design). This blend is composed of four malt whiskies and one grain whisky. Orange blossoms on the nose, followed by oak, caramel, and fresh orchard fruit on the palate. Ideal in a highball.

The roasty, vegetal aroma fills your mouth with your first sip. A subtle sweetness and wood-like fragrance appears as you exhale, and before you know it, you’re back for another sip. A familiar fragrance brings you back, the effortless combination of roasted hojicha tea with gin. Kagoshima, one of Japan’s leading tea-producing regions, is the only place such an unlikely but perfect match could happen.