Four Pillars Fresh Yuzu Gin brings yuzu into the Four Pillars citrus family without turning the bottle into a simple lemon-flavoured gin. Fresh yuzu gives the main direction, while finger lime, ginger, turmeric, sencha genmaicha, dried apple and the distillery’s usual citrus structure add depth around it.

The nose suggests lemon, mandarin and grapefruit at the same time, with the sharper perfume of yuzu leading the way. In the mouth, the citrus stays bright, but tea and dried apple give a softer middle. Ginger lifts the finish and turmeric leaves a light warmth, so the gin remains clean rather than sweet.

This bottle is most convincing when the yuzu is allowed to stay fresh. A heavy or very bitter tonic can make the citrus feel flatter, while soda, light tonic or a very clean mixer keeps the perfume alive. It is a good choice for highballs, Collins-style drinks and simple aperitifs with a Japanese citrus accent.

The Perfect Serve should be cold and light, with soda or a restrained tonic and a lemon garnish. The lemon supports the yuzu without covering it, while the bubbles let the tea and ginger notes appear after the first citrus burst. The import-ready version uses 10 cl of , with lemon wedge.

The best way to judge it is to look for the moment after the first citrus hit. If the tea, ginger and turmeric still appear, the serve is working. If only lemon remains, the mixer is too strong or the garnish is too heavy.

For pairing, raw fish, fried snacks, citrus salads and salty aperitif plates all make sense. The yuzu gives freshness, while the tea note keeps the pairing drier than a simple fruit gin would.