Etsu PACIFIC OCEAN WATER GIN 45% Vol. 0,7l in Giftbox

As with the original Etsu Gin, this is made by the Asahikawa distillery on the Northern Japanese Islan of Hokkaido. It's worth remembering that Etsu translates as 'pleasure' in Japanese, and that is the aim of their gins.

With this edtion, the coast line of Hokkaido has been captured. Both in the ingredients, but also the bottle itself. The bottle is made of 100% recycled glass, which can be seen in the blue green colour of the glass, representing the pacific ocean. As this is recycled, the bottles are not 100% perfect, and bubbles can form within the glass, as well as a rough 'orange peel' texture. This means that each bottle is slightly different, and each bottle is unique.

With this gin, fresh botanicals such as juniper berries, bitter orange peel, yuzu, saltwood root, angelica and coriander are added to fresh spring water from the mountains, and seawater from the Sea of Japan. This creates a unique gin, described as the 'Japanese coastline in a bottle'.

The aroma of this gin definitely lets the drinker know this is an ocean oriented gin, with a fresh yet slightly salty aroma. The flavour still has a definite yuzu flavour, but this is balanced by a delicate saltiness form the ocean water. The finish is smooth, silky and well rounded.