This botanical gin hails from Kagoshima, Japan, home to both the Komasa Gin Distillery and a tiny type of local mandarin orange called the Sakurajima komikan.

Sakurajima is the name of an active volcano in Kagoshima and is where these mandarins grow in its volcanic soils and reach sizes of about 4cm in diameter. Each ripe fruit is packed with a mellow fragrance and the thick, sweet taste of citrus.

Komasa Sakurajima Komikan Gin is crafted with generous amounts of these fragrant mandarins, resulting in a bright, gentle spirit that truly shines with fresh notes of citrus.

Sakurajima Komikan grow on a volcanic island surrounded on all sides by the sea. Growing anything in a place where ash falls year-round is indisputably difficult. Even when grown in greenhouses, ash still finds its way inside through tiny cracks and crevices. Ash damages the skin of the fruit, so brushing is crucial in growing quality mikan. The harvest season starts in mid-November and lasts only a month, meaning that, even in local produce markets, Sakurajima komikan are only available for about one month out of the year.