Mitsutake Shuzo builds Akatorii SAKE GIN Hana no Keiji Edition on a daiginjo sake base, then matures it in American white oak. The gin is bottled at 45% ABV in a 700 ml format, and the producer identifies Saga citrus peel among the selected botanicals. Juniper keeps the gin's botanical identity in view; the sake base and cask maturation bring a fuller texture, a golden colour and a pronounced oak aroma.

Woody · Limited Edition

The nose is led by warm wood and a fresh citrus accent. In the mouth, the distillery describes a rounded, generous texture from the daiginjo base, followed by a firm cask character. Saga citrus peel contributes a bright aromatic edge, while juniper gives the expected resinous note beneath it. The finish is longer and warmer than a typical unaged dry gin, with the oak remaining clear after the citrus has receded. The producer recommends neat pours, ice or soda, each showing a different side of the matured spirit.

This release was created for the 35th anniversary of the manga Hana no Keiji and carries its artwork on the bottle. The collaboration is a limited cask-aged release, not a standard gin recipe with a themed label: the cask, sake base and citrus botanicals are central to how it differs. Mitsutake Shuzo makes it in Kashima, in Saga Prefecture.

For a long drink, build a simple soda highball over clear ice, using 5 cl gin and 10 cl chilled soda. Add a narrow Japanese citrus peel directly to the glass and express its oils over the surface. The soda opens the citrus and oak without adding sugar, while a light touch preserves the sake-derived roundness. The distillery also recommends trying it neat or over ice; avoid a sweet tonic that would cover the barrel and daiginjo character.