Suntory Roku Japanese Craft Gin

Roku Gin is a striking expression of Japanese craftsmanship and botanical finesse. It balances classic gin structure (juniper, citrus) with distinctly Japanese botanicals (green teas, sakura, yuzu, sanshō pepper) to produce a gin that’s elegant, contemplative, and versatile. It works beautifully neat or in refined cocktails, and excels when complexity matters more than sheer volume.

---

Origins & Craftsmanship

• Produced by Suntory, at their Osaka / Japanese operations. Roku means “six” in Japanese, reflecting its core botanical philosophy. 

• Crafted with six unique Japanese botanicals, each harvested at their seasonal peak. 

• Those six botanicals are: sakura flower, sakura leaf, sencha (green tea), gyokuro (refined green tea), sanshō pepper, and yuzu peel. 

• In addition to those, Roku also incorporates more “traditional” gin botanicals (juniper, citrus, coriander, cardamom, etc.) to round out its complexity. 

• Each botanical is often distilled individually (or via micro-distillation) so their character remains distinct, then blended. 

• Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in many markets. 

---

Tasting Profile

Some tasters note that Roku's bitterness / astringency from tea can make it “challenging” in heavy mixers, so it tends to shine more in simpler cocktails or neat.

---

Food & Cocktail Pairings

• Serving / Cocktails
  • Gin & Tonic (preferably with delicate tonic) — let the botanicals shine.
  • Negroni / Martinez variants — gives an elegant twist via the Japanese botanicals.
  • Simple Serve: Roku + soda water + yuzu or citrus garnish.
  • Martini: Roku works nicely in a gin martini, especially if you want floral and tea complexity.

• Food Pairings
  • Sushi / Sashimi — the green tea & subtle spice complement fresh seafood.
  • Light salads with citrus or yuzu dressings.
  • Dishes with herbal notes (shiso, mint), or light herbal soups.
  • Delicate desserts: yuzu sorbet, green tea desserts, almond / cherry blossom sweets.

---

Quick Overview