Masahiro
An intriguing Japanese gin from the Masahiro distillery, known for making Awamori (a type of rice-based spirit) but now exploring the glory of juniper! Alongside the aforementioned juniper, the distillers in Okinawa have used guava leaves, long pepper, roselle (a type of hibiscus), goya (a type of melon) and shekwasha (a green citrus fruit native to Okinawa and Taiwan).
Sharp fruit sweetness tempered by earthy juniper and leafy hints. Citrus blossom keeps it fresh.
Was: £37.95Now: £25.95
A different and welcome addition to the world of Gin. The bold flavor of the rice distillate serves as a clean canvas of which the botanicals work very well with. I especially like it served with a tonic and spritz of lemon juice.
Lighter fluid in a cool bottle. Complete waste of money.
Terrible
I went to Okinawa to buy. Very dissatisfied with a straight cup for intelligence But when mixed with non-pepsi coke 4: 6 or 3: 7 it tastes good. Never drink straight. The taste of straight is no better than just vodka.
I can understand why some of the reviews have said this gin is a little odd - it is! The first thing to notice is it's not like your usual Japanese gins, it has LOTS and lots of flavour. I've read the base spirit is not a neutral grain spirit (like most gin) but a robust Awamori. This, straight away, gives it a a really full-on back bone. Then the botanicals are very herbal and not at all familiar to the western palate. After having played around with this gin a lot I see it more like a Mezcal than a gin. It works with tonic but is actually better with sparkling water and a little grapefruit (cordial or slice). Or make Mezcal-typo cocktails. Try a Martinez. In summary, this is not necessarily the right choice if you like very simple gins but if you're looking for something amazing to play with (only a small amount will have a big impact on a cocktail) then this is amazing!
