Uniquely bottled in a hexagonal glass vessel, Roku Gin is a distinctive spirit from Japan’s revered Suntory brand; one of the countries’ most awarded spirits producers, mastering the skill of making gin since 1936. As one of the first Japanese gins to hit South African shores, Roku offers a native edge in the country’s trending industry with a rare flavour base inspired by its home. Meaning ‘six’ in Japanese, Roku incorporates six traditional, seasonal botanicals that help shape the complex flavour profile, which are infused, distilled and blended to maximise flavour and form its Japanese identity, setting the spirit apart from other gins.
This unique liquid was born out of a vision to create a truly authentic Japanese product to meet demand for a crafted, premium gin with a distinctive and balanced flavour. With the addition of Roku to its portfolio, Beam Suntory now boasts a differentiated and unique gin offering, spanning the standard, premium, and super premium segments of the category – with Larios, Roku, and Sipsmith respectively.
The gin is first flavoured with traditional aromatics such as juniper berries, coriander, angelica root and seeds, cardamom, cinnamon, and peels from lemon and bitter orange. Enhancing its rich character, the six Japanese botanicals – Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Yuzu peel, Sencha tea, Gyokuro tea and Sansho pepper – are harvested in accordance with ‘shun’, the tradition of enjoying each ingredient at its best by only harvesting at its peak of flavour and perfection.
In a process unique to Roku, the six Japanese botanicals are distilled using a selection of different pot stills, each chosen to ensure the best flavour is extracted from each botanical. The result is a complex yet harmonious gin with a smooth and silky texture.
Meticulous attention to detail – the signature of Japanese craftsmanship – also extends to the bottle. Roku’s bottle is cast in a hexagonal shape, representing each Japanese botanical, and is finished with delicate embossing. The Japanese kanji symbol for six is printed on the label, which is made of traditional washi paper and finished with subtle touches of gold.
Roku can be enjoyed on the rocks or in a Japanese Gin & Tonic. Prepared with extra care, the Japanese Gin & Tonic is served with ice and slices of ginger to complement the refreshing and citrus top notes of yuzu. More than a simple gin & tonic, the Japanese Gin & Tonic reflects the spirit of Japanese hospitality, Omotenashi, where people are encouraged to pour each other’s Roku Gin as part of the refreshing Japanese ritual to share the spirit, and enjoy it with friends.
