Kilchoman single malt whisky once filled the American oak barrels in which KI NO BI Edition K rests. The Kyoto Distillery monitors the casks so their peat and smoke sit alongside, rather than overwhelm, the original Kyoto Dry Gin blend. Bottled at 46% ABV, it keeps the identity of KI NO BI while taking on a clear Islay influence.

Woody · Spicy · Herbal

Fresh peat meets yuzu and lemon on the nose, with the savoury, green character of sansho and kinome close behind. The first sip brings a measured sweetness and gentle peat; juniper takes on a smoky edge, while sansho and kinome add a lively savoury note. Ginger becomes more apparent as the gin opens, carrying through to a finish of peaty oak, warm spice, gingerbread and black pepper.

The underlying recipe remains the Kyoto blend: juniper, orris root and akamatsu at its base, citrus from yuzu and lemon, herbal notes from sansho and kinome, and ginger, gyokuro green tea, bamboo and red shiso. The distillery presents Edition K as a cask-aged Kyoto Dry Gin, not as a whisky; the barrel contributes aroma and flavour while the gin's botanical character stays recognisable. The release is part of KI NO BI's cask-aged series, where each wood and previous fill brings a different influence to the same Kyoto foundation. Here, the former Kilchoman casks make the smoky character a deliberate part of the gin's profile, not merely a trace of oak.

A smoky highball is a natural way to explore that balance. Build 4 cl over ice with chilled soda, then add a lemon twist and a thin slice of fresh ginger. The bubbles lift the citrus and spice without masking the peat. A neat pour or a smoky Negroni will show the oak more directly, while the highball keeps the drink long, bright and easy to read.