Oka Gin

Awards: San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024 Winner Best in Category: Gin and Best Japanese Gin

San in Japanese means the number “three.” In the case of Oka Gin, San refers its three anchoring botanicals.

1. Ichi – Juniper: Juniper is the one indispensable ingredient in any gin and Oka Gin uses two types. The European variety used is piney and bright with all the classic aromatics associated with gin. Its Himalayan counterpart has a deeper, earthy flavor that provides balance and nuance.

2. Ni – Citrus: Japan has a wide variety of delicious citrus, from mikan, a local type of mandarin orange, to sudachi, an aromatic lime like citrus found in the south of Japan. During production periods, Oka Gin combines in-season citrus to add a fresh, bright zest of aroma for this workhorse gin.

3. San – Young Ginger: Known as shoga in Japan, this renowned spice is a common element in Japanese cuisine. It is well known in the West as the ubiquitous pickled palate cleanser between bites of sushi. Oka Gin uses ginger to similar effect, adding a spicy, bitter-sweet clarity to the gin. Oka gin is antithetical to most Japanese gins. Instead of skewing to its delicate and floral contemporaries, Oka gin is balanced and robust with a rich body any gin lover will appreciate. Wonderful in your favorite highball, or negroni riff, this gin absolutely crushes when paired with bright citrus and will grab the attention of even the staunchest juniper loving purist.