About this gin

Roku means 'six' in Japanese, a nod to the six Japanese botanicals at the heart of this gin from the House of Suntory. They are gathered across the year at their seasonal peak: sakura flower and sakura leaf in spring, sencha and gyokuro teas in summer, sansho pepper in autumn and yuzu peel in winter. At Suntory's Liquor Atelier in Osaka, each botanical is distilled separately, choosing between four types of pot still, before being blended with eight classic gin botanicals including juniper and coriander.

The result is precise and layered. Cherry blossom and green tea give a floral, slightly sweet nose; the palate brings bright yuzu over a juniper backbone with the richness of gyokuro; and sansho pepper adds a gentle, tingling spice to the finish. The hexagonal bottle is a beautiful object in its own right, which makes Roku a thoughtful gift. Suntory's own serve is a G&T with ribbons of fresh ginger.

Key facts

• Made by Suntory at its Liquor Atelier in Osaka, which uses four types of pot still
• Six Japanese botanicals: sakura flower, sakura leaf, sencha tea, gyokuro tea, sansho pepper and yuzu peel
• Eight traditional gin botanicals alongside, including juniper, coriander and citrus peels
• Each botanical is distilled separately, using the method best suited to it; 'roku' means six in Japanese

Tasting notes

Nose:

Cherry blossom and green tea, floral and lightly sweet

Palate:

Layered and balanced, bright yuzu over juniper with rich green-tea depth

Finish:

Clean, with the soft, tingling spice of sansho pepper

Serve

Suntory's signature: a gin and tonic over ice garnished with a few thin matchsticks of fresh ginger. Also lovely in a Gin Fizz.

Food pairing

Excellent with Japanese food such as sashimi, tempura or yakitori, and with lightly spiced Bengali dishes like bhetki fry or a shukto.