135°East is a gin inspired by the Taisho era, a period in which Eastern culture fused with Westerns customs. The city of Akashi is located exactly at 135 degrees East longitude and was chosen in 1888 to determine Japan Standard Time. The Japanese call it “Toki no machi” (the city of time). As a symbol of the gin that would join its ranks, the 135th meridian was a clear choice for the Kaikyo Distillery.

By combining new flavours with the classic botanicals of gin, Kimio Yonezawa has created an innovative “Hyogo Dry” style. First, the Master Distiller & Blender collected and tested around 50 plants from all over the prefecture. After making a careful selection, he chose 5 Japanese botanicals locally sourced from farmers : yuzu, sansho pepper, sencha tea, ume and shiso leaf. Each botanical is then distilled separately using the vacuum distillation : a unique distillation technique coming from the luxury world of perfume. At the end, a splash of distilled sake is added at the blending stage to enhance the delicacy of the gin.

135º East was imagined and crafted like a perfume. Unexpected, isn’t it ? The gin share with perfumery the drive to awaken the senses. Kimio Yonezawa gives heart and soul to shape something out of the ordinary by stirring a sensorial curiosity.