KI NO BI SEI is made according to the same intricate production method as the original KI NO BI, using 11 botanicals distilled in six distinct flavour categories, known as the 6 Elements. The final blend has been recalibrated by our distilling team to bring out the best of each botanical at the higher strength. This bottling is at the traditional Royal Navy strength of 54.5% abv, often confused with 100 proof, or 57.1% abv.
The Kyoto Distillery was established in 2014 by the three founders: Noriko Kakuda Croll, David Croll and Marcin Miller. The company may still be in its infancy, but the founders’ journey to build one of the most innovative distilleries in the world began some 20 years ago. Noriko and David established a whisky importing company in Tokyo in the late 1990s to introduce discerning Japanese whisky enthusiasts to a variety of distinguished single malts from independent Scottish distilleries. In this capacity, they met Marcin Miller, at the time Editor and Publisher of Whisky Magazine. Together they created a Japanese language version of the magazine, and launched whisky tasting event Whisky Live in 2000.
In contrast with the original KI NO BI, which has a delicate and gentle profile, KI NO BI SEI has a thicker mouthfeel and full-bodied flavour, which works well in cocktails. The higher proof allows the distinctive taste of KI NO BI’s flavour profile to prevail. It’s punchy at first on the palate, while retaining the cleanness and harmony of the original KI NO BI. All of the flavours are enhanced while remaining well-balanced. A perfect gin for cocktails.
