Roku debuts festival-inspired gin series

The House of Suntory has added a limited edition expression to its premium Roku gin range to celebrate Japan’s cherry blossom season.

The expression is the first release in Roku’s Festival Collection, a series that invites gin drinkers to ‘experience the pinnacle of every season’.

The gin is inspired by Japan’s annual Hanami festival, a period in spring when the flowers are in full bloom.

It is also designed to capture the Japanese concept of ‘shun’, which celebrates the moment when nature is at its peak.

House of Suntory describes the gin as possessing the ‘soft and elegant floral taste’ of a Sakura flower, commonly referred to as a cherry blossom.

James Bowker, global advocacy manager of Beam Suntory, said: “Shun is a concept unique to Japanese culture. It captures something magical, a moment when the natural world is at its most energised.

“The Roku Sakura Bloom Edition will be an expression of that concept – a bright and fresh-flavoured gin containing botanicals that are harvested at the peak of their vibrancy and taste.

“The Roku Sakura Bloom Edition provides an immersion into the cultural origins of the product as well as providing a unique taste profile, giving the brand a compelling point of difference in the premium gin market.”

The Sakura flower is one of the gin’s key ingredients, alongside a blend of six different Japanese botanicals. Along with floral and sweet notes, it is said to be ‘layered with hints of saltiness from the blossom leaves’.

House of Suntory recommends it in a gin and tonic, with three parts tonic water and a pink grapefruit garnish, served over ice in a Highball glass.

Bottled at 43% ABV, Roku Sakura Bloom Edition retails in Tesco supermarkets for £33 (US$42). From March, it will also be available at Waitrose and Sainsbury’s.