135 East Gin

135° East Hyogo Dry Gin — A Premium Japanese Craft Gin Where East Meets West

A Gin Born from Cultural Fusion

There are gins that taste good. And then there are gins that tell a story. 135° East Hyogo Dry Gin from Kaikyo Distillery does both, with quiet confidence and extraordinary depth.

Named after the 135th meridian east, the line of longitude that passes directly through Akashi City in Japan’s Hyogo Prefecture, this gin is more than a spirit. It is a geographical statement. A cultural declaration. A fusion of London Dry craftsmanship and authentic Japanese botanical tradition that produces something entirely its own.

Five Japanese Botanicals That Define the Spirit

Master Distiller Kimio Yonezawa selected his botanicals with the precision of a perfectionist and the instinct of an artist. Classic Western botanicals, juniper, angelica root and coriander form the backbone. But it is the five signature Japanese ingredients that give 135° East its unmistakable identity:

Yuzu, bright, citrus-forward and unmistakably Japanese. Shiso leaf, herbal, complex and deeply aromatic. Sansho pepper, warm, peppery and bold. Chrysanthemum,  delicate, floral and refined. Japanese cedar wood, earthy, grounding and uniquely Japanese.

Each botanical is distilled individually using vacuum distillation, a technique borrowed from luxury perfumery, to preserve the purity and intensity of every aroma. The result is a gin of extraordinary clarity, where every ingredient speaks for itself before coming together in perfect harmony.

A final touch of distilled junmai sake rounds out the flavour with a smooth, refined finish that could only come from Japan.

Tasting Notes

The nose opens with fresh florals and vibrant citrus, yuzu leading the way with characteristic brightness. On the palate, 135° East delivers a silky texture and a dynamic interplay of bitter, floral and zesty flavours. The sansho pepper builds gently, introducing a warm and lingering finish that feels both modern and deeply rooted in Japanese culinary tradition.

Complex but approachable. Bold but refined. A gin that rewards patience and curiosity in equal measure.

The Art of Vacuum Distillation

What sets Kaikyo Distillery apart technically is their use of vacuum distillation, an advanced method that operates at lower temperatures to protect the integrity of delicate botanicals. Where conventional distillation risks losing subtle aromas to heat, vacuum distillation preserves them in full. The result is a spirit of exceptional aromatic purity, every note exactly where it should be.

Rooted in Tradition, Reaching for the World

Kaikyo Distillery is part of the historic Akashi Sake Brewery, a family operation producing premium sake and spirits since 1856. That heritage of fermentation, distillation and blending runs deep, providing a foundation of expertise that few craft distilleries can match.

For Master Distiller Kimio Yonezawa, that heritage is not a constraint. It is a launching pad.

Discover 135° East Gin — Available for International Trade

Importers, distributors and retailers looking for a premium Japanese craft gin with extraordinary depth, cultural resonance and a story unlike any other can discover 135° East Hyogo Dry Gin on The Gin Genie — the international gin discovery platform connecting craft producers with the global trade and hospitality industry.

East meets West. Tradition meets innovation. Every sip tells the story.

「カイキョウ蒸留所の135イースト・ジンは、ザ・ジン・ジーニーでご覧いただけます — 世界中のクラフトジン生産者とインポーターをつなぐ国際的なディスカバリープラットフォーム」