Kanagawa prefecture's Koganei Shuzo is now making a craft gin fairly nearby Tokyo, with a focus on Kanagawa botanicals. They've named it "Koganei," and they are aiming for a good variety of fruit, herbs, spices, and woody notes, with most of the botanicals sourced from somewhere in the prefecture:
- Kabosu
- Sansho
- Shonan Gold
- Cedar wood
- Cypress wood
- Cherry blossom
- Lemongrass
- Tea leaves
- Fish mint
And that's topped off by imported juniper. Koganei was actually released back but September but it slipped under the radar. In fact looking around it seems the only place you can pick up a bottle online (500ml, 43% abv, 4860 yen after tax) is directly from the distillery.
In any case, with so many new craft distilleries popping up, I have to wonder how long it will be before we start seeing some distilleries right here in Tokyo?
Eric Yee
Whiskey Richard