The Herbalist Yaso Gin (70cl, 45%)

The Herbalist Yaso Gin is a craft gin from Niigata Prefecture in Japan, made by Echigoyakuso, a health food maker with a background in Chinese medicine and fermentation. It is the first craft gin in the prefecture, and it is distilled from alcohol produced during the making of its health foods. The base spirit comes from 80 kinds of wild plants, including mugwort, turmeric and ginseng, matured for about a year in a ceramic pot. The gin itself blends 20 further wild plants, among them echigo toki, Japanese yam carrot leaves and ginseng berries. The aroma is classic botanical with fresh wildflower notes. Floral tones of rose, lavender, jasmine, chamomile and thyme orange flower sit alongside the distinctive scent of ginseng berry.