AWAYUKI Gin brings together three Japanese strawberry varieties with distinct aromatic characters. Awayuki is known for its pale blush colour and gentle sweetness, Pearl White for its almost ivory appearance, and Kotoka for a deeper red fruit character. Using the actual berries rather than a generic flavouring allows the gin to move between fresh flesh, soft blossom and a faint seed-like tartness. Bottled at 44% ABV, it retains a genuine dry-gin frame beneath the fruit.

The botanical foundation is intentionally spare: juniper, angelica and coriander support the strawberries. Juniper supplies a clean pine note, angelica gives the palate a dry root structure, and coriander introduces citrus-spice lift. Against that background, each berry can contribute a different shade. The aroma recalls freshly cut strawberry rather than boiled sweets, with floral airiness from Awayuki and Pearl White followed by the fuller, riper tone of Kotoka.

On the palate, red fruit appears first, then the gin tightens around juniper and coriander. The texture is smooth but not syrupy, and the 44% strength keeps the finish precise. A soft floral note lingers beside strawberry skin and a restrained peppery warmth. The most appealing feature is the balance between fragility and structure: the fruit feels vivid, yet the roots and seeds prevent the bottle from becoming a strawberry liqueur in disguise.

Serve 4 cl with 10 cl of Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water over large clear ice. One thin fresh strawberry slice is enough to echo the three Japanese varieties without adding unnecessary sweetness. Add the tonic slowly and stir once. A neutral, dry mixer is preferable to an elderflower or strongly flavoured tonic, which would blur the distinctions between pale floral fruit, ripe berry and the gin's clean juniper backbone.