Nozawa Onsen Distillery's 2026 Doso bottling is presented at 45% ABV in a 500 ml format. The distillery connects the gin with the Dosojin Fire Festival in Nozawa Onsen. Juniper is joined by toasted buna wood and hojicha, a roasted green tea, while the producer also describes a winter-spice character. The black-and-white label and red limited tag distinguish the seasonal bottle, but the liquid's identity comes from the meeting of gin botanicals, roasted tea and wood.

Woody · Limited Edition · Spicy · Earthy

Juniper supplies a familiar resinous note, while toasted buna brings a dry, woody impression. Hojicha adds a roasted tea aroma that gives the middle of the palate more depth than a bright citrus-led gin. The distillery's winter-spice description adds warmth alongside those savoury elements. The finish is suited to a short, spirit-led pour or a simple highball, where dilution can open the toasted notes while keeping the juniper present.

The Dosojin Fire Festival is a local winter tradition in Nozawa Onsen, and the distillery presents this release in connection with that event. Rather than treating the setting as decoration, the recipe uses toasted wood and roasted tea to build a distinctly winter-facing profile. The 2026 release is presented as a limited seasonal bottling from the Nagano distillery.

A chilled soda highball is a restrained way to serve it: fill a chilled highball glass with clear ice, add 5 cl gin and top with 10 cl cold soda. Place a thin slice of fresh ginger directly in the glass. The soda lifts the roasted aroma without adding sweetness, and ginger gives a gentle aromatic accent. Do not use a strongly flavoured mixer; it would compete with the tea and toasted wood that make this release distinctive.