The Kyoto Distillery was founded in 2015 and is owned by Number One Drinks, a UK-based company established by David Croll and gin producer Marcin Miller. Croll, who has lived in Japan for a number of decades, also founded Whisk-e, Japan’s largest Scotch whisky importer.
“We’ve worked hard to create a delicious dry gin from local botanicals where possible, something that reflects Kyoto’s rich culture of craftsmanship,” says Croll. “If we’ve succeeded, I’m confident gin enthusiasts around the world will enjoy Ki No Bi.”
The Kyoto Distillery claims to be Japan’s first dedicated artisanal gin distillery. Each bottle it produces is infused with the traditions and aesthetic sensibilities of Kyoto.
Their flagship gin, Ki No Bi—which means “The Beauty of the Seasons”—uses ingredients sourced from the Kyoto countryside, including yellow yuzu, bamboo, gyokuro tea, ginger, and hinoki (Japanese cypress) wood chips.
The distillery employs a distinctive method of distillation: each botanical is distilled separately, then blended to create the final gin. Though more costly, this process is said to better preserve the unique flavour and aroma of each ingredient.
Head distiller Alex Davies explains: “To create our gin, we’ve focused not just on the science of distillation, but also the age-old art of blending. We divide our botanicals into six categories—Base, Citrus, Tea, Herbal, Spice, and Floral—and distill each group separately before blending them back together.”
Ki No Bi remains the distillery’s signature expression, praised both for its balance and for its elegant expression of Japanese terroir.
