How do you reimagine one of the world’s top-selling gin? Should you age it in a barrel? Team up with a celebrity? Distil bugs? For the House of Suntory, it turned to a hugely popular festival to create the Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition.
The Japanese spirits producer has launched a new Roku Gin expression that personifies Japan’s iconic cherry blossom viewing (hanami) ritual by amping up the flavours from one of Roku Gin’s key ingredients. Elegant and softly floral with a hint of saltiness, it captures the peak of spring and showcases Roku Gin in full bloom.
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition is also the first release in Roku Gin’s new festival-inspired series, which the House of Suntory is marking with several collaborations. Twenty top Singapore bars will be serving Roku spring cocktails. Perfume house Maison 21G crafted a scent based on the gin’s aromas, and award-winning chocolatier Janice Wong created a special dessert gift box.
How Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition was born
As white and pink flowers explode throughout Japan during hanami season, millions of people flock to nature to gather under the trees, soak in the wonders of the cherry blossom, and enjoy food that celebrates the bounty of the sakura tree.
Roku Sakura Bloom Edition expresses the occasion similarly. In addition to the sakura flowers and leaves that already feature in the signature Roku Gin and the travel-retail-only Roku Gin Select Edition, the Roku Sakura Bloom introduces salted sakura leaves, which are traditionally wrapped around sakura mochi.
Backed by Roku Gin’s distinctive Japanese botanicals of yuzu peel, sencha and gyokuro teas, and sansho pepper, the new bottling presents the delicately floral scent of cherry blossom, followed by a smooth, subtly sweet, and velvety taste with a tinge of salt.
Where to drink Roku spring cocktails
To experience Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition in the hands of Singapore’s talented bartenders, the House of Suntory has partnered with 20 bars across town on three seasonal cocktails. These bars are serving two cocktails highlighting Roku Sakura Bloom and one with the original Roku Gin from 1 April to 24 May 2024.
Venues include Mixology Salon, which pairs Roku Sakura Bloom with jasmine tea and strawberry in its low-alcohol Sakura Tea Tail. Manhattan shakes up the Hanami, a gin sour twist with lychee ferment, cherry tomato, and honey, while Antidote presents Roku Sakura Bloom in a fizz with Cherry Berry candy, cacao, and vanilla cream.
They are joined by other bars like Live Twice, MO Bar, Stay Gold Flamingo, Spectre, and Underdog Inn.
Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition Collaborations
Maison 21G
Roku Sakura Bloom inspires more than just cocktails. The House of Suntory has worked with bespoke perfumery Maison 21G on a limited-edition scent called Spring Kaze. It offers lush aromas of cherry blossom leaves and yuzu zest, underpinned by warm, woody notes, evoking the fleeting beauty of spring year-round.
The fragrance is available in a 30ml spray bottle at Maison 21G boutiques. Certain bars will be running a promotion that entitles consumers to a complimentary 2.1ml bottle with the purchase of three Roku spring cocktails.
Janice Wong
Additionally, The House of Suntory collaborated with celebrated Singapore pastry chef Janice Wong. At 2am: dessertbar and Wong’s newest branch at Supertree Observatory in Gardens by the Bay, consumers can savour a Roku Sakura Bloom cocktail created for the occasion. The Sakura Blossom mini cake is also available at all Janice Wong outlets.
Take home the experience with a specially-curated chocolate bonbon gift set. The box of 25 bon bons comes with a bottle of Roku Sakura Bloom and is available from 1 to 30 April 2024 online and at all Janice Wong Pure Imagination outlets.
Roku Sakura Bloom is the debut release in the Roku Seasonal Festival Collection, a series of limited-edition bottling that celebrates Japan’s seasonal festivals and introduces a Roku for every season. The collection sits alongside the House of Suntory’s current range of craft gins including Roku Gin, Roku Gin Select Edition, and Sui Gin.
Head to this website for information on where to purchase Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition, partner bars, and more details.
(Hero and featured images credit: House of Suntory)
