Made from six quintessential Japanese botanicals – sakura flower and leaves, sencha and gyokuro teas, sansho pepper and yuzu peel – Suntory’s Roku Gin is one of the few Japanese gins to have gained international popularity. If you’re a fan, here’s some good news: the distillery in Osaka will be open for public tours starting Friday May 8.
Suntory’s Osaka Distillery is the company’s oldest facility, built in 1919 by founder Shinjiro Torii to produce Western spirits with Japanese sensibilities. Just last year, it became the first facility in Japan to win the Liqueur Producer Trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Photo: Suntory
Following a major renovation in 2024, the site now features a newly built Spirits & Liqueur Atelier, where a wide variety of base spirits are produced and blended into products including Roku Gin. The upgrade also includes a dedicated visitor centre.
Photo: Suntory
This new tour focuses on the making of Roku Gin, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the production process, along with guided tastings.
Photo: Suntory
The experience begins at the Welcome Lounge, where a large screen introduces the history of the distillery and its range of products. From there, you’ll pass through the Botanical Road, lined with the very plants used in Roku Gin, before learning about the distillation equipment and process.
Photo: Suntory
Then, in the Creation Room, surrounded by a 360-degree immersive screen, you’ll be guided through a tasting session featuring various base spirits. You’ll also learn about the seasonal botanicals and how they are blended to create Roku’s signature flavour.
Photo: Suntory
The tour concludes at the Gift & Gallery, where you can purchase spirits and liqueurs made at the distillery, as well as exclusive merchandise.
The Suntory Osaka Distillery Spirits & Liqueurs Atelier Tour runs for approximately 80 minutes and costs ¥3,000. At the end of the tour, you’ll receive a 200ml bottle of Roku Gin as a souvenir.
Tickets are now available online via a lottery system. Do note that the tour is limited to visitors aged 20 and above, and it’s conducted in Japanese. However, international visitors can use the automatic translation service on their smartphones or tablets – just make sure to inform a staff member upon arrival.
Photo: Suntory
For more information, check the Suntory Osaka Distillery website.
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