Kyoto Ki Noh Bi ex-Karuizawa Cask Dry Gin 30th Edition / Bar K6 30th Anniversary

Founded in 2015 by whisky enthusiasts Marcin Miller and David Croll, Kyoto Distillery is the first dedicated artisan gin distillery in Japan. Croll first visited the nation in 1985 whilst working for a bank and immediately fell in love with the historic city of Kyoto, to which he promptly moved to. After teaming up with Miller in 2006, the two formed the Number One Drinks Company and began exporting some of Japan’s the most legendary malts such as Karuizawa and Hanyu. In the early 2010s and inspired by the craft gin boom taking place in the UK and United States, they decided to get involved themselves. In 2014, they purchased an old warehouse in an area of the city famous for sake brewing and installed equipment. This included two custom-built copper pot stills produced by German manufacturer Christian Carl. These stills have the capability to adjust their specification giving the team the flexibility to produce different styles of spirit. When selecting botanicals for their recipes, the team dedicate themselves to harvesting local ingredients from in and around Kyoto.

The Kyoto Distillery’s “Ki Noh Bi” Dry Gin is the first Japanese gin to collaborate with the Noh Theatre, like the legendary Karuizawa distillery did before it. Noh is one of Japan’s traditional performing arts, and like the Karuizawa bottlings, each release carries a mask used in performing.

This is the 30th edition, and carries the Koushi-jhou mask, used to portray old men who are incarnations of deities. The gin itself was released in April 2024 and has been matured for 'a long period' in sherry barrels which had previously held single malt from Karuizawa distillery.

This release was bottled to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Bar K6, and was available exclusively through The House of Ki No Bi and their online shop.

One of 577 bottles.