Ki No Tea Kyoto Dry Gin

KI NO TEA is a collaboration between The Kyoto Distillery, Japan's first gin-only house, and Hori-Shichimeien, a tea maker with more than 150 years behind it. The premise is the tea: hand-picked Tencha and Gyokuro from Uji, one of Japan's most famous growing regions, distilled alongside the classic gin botanicals. As at the distillery's other bottlings, the components are distilled in separate batches and married afterwards, which lets the delicate tea character survive intact and bring its own umami depth.

The nose is fresh and gentle, soft juniper meeting elegant green tea, florals and a subtle citrus lift. The palate is silky and harmonious, umami-rich tea leaves wrapped around sweet vanilla, juniper and a herbal spice. It finishes long and smooth, slightly sweet, the tea flavour lingering. Pour it into a G&T with a mild tonic and a fresh mint leaf to lift the tea, or stir it into a classic Martini.