The Kyoto Distillery
| Formed: | 2014 |
| Shimanomazumechō-15, Kisshoin, Minami-ku Kyoto, 601-8363, Japan | |
| https://kyotodistillery.jp |
The Kyoto Distillery, founded in 2014 by Noriko Kakuda Croll, David Croll, and Marcin Miller, is Japan’s first dedicated craft gin distillery.
It embodies a deep respect for Japanese craftsmanship, tradition, and the natural bounty of its surroundings.
The distillery draws on the region’s rich heritage, from the soft waters of Fushimi, long prized by sake brewers, to the renowned tea fields of Uji, ensuring its gins carry a true sense of place.
Its flagship gin, KI NO BI (meaning “The Beauty of the Seasons”), was launched in 2016 and has since become an internationally acclaimed expression of Japanese artistry. Made from a high-quality rice spirit base, it features 11 botanicals, many sourced locally, including yuzu, gyokuro green tea, and sanshō pepper.
Production takes place in bespoke copper stills, designed to treat each botanical with precision and care. The distillery’s philosophy is rooted in balance, harmony, and respect for ingredients, resulting in gins of remarkable finesse and depth.
Looking ahead, The Kyoto Distillery is expanding with a new carbon-neutral site in Kameoka City, multiplying production capacity and embracing renewable energy to meet growing global demand while honouring its commitment to sustainability.
Kyoto Distillery brands
KI NO BI Kyoto Dry Gin
Inspired by tradition, KI NO BI (‘The Beauty of the Seasons’) is distilled, blended and bottled in Japan's first purpose-built gin distillery in Kyoto. Their 11 carefully-selected botanicals are separated Read More
Ki No Tea Kyoto Dry Gin
KI NO TEA is a product created in collaboration with tea-grower and blender Hori-Shichimeien, founded in the Meiji era in 1879 and based in the famous Uji region to the Read More
Further information
Ki No Bi Distillery
The new Kyoto distillery houses 4 main stills, the products of which are blended to produce Ki No Bi’s gins. The Ki No Bi distillery, located in Kyoto Prefecture’s city of Kameoka, is powered without the use of fossil fuels. Its boiler runs on electricity from renewable energy sources including wind, water, solar and geothermal power. They could have increased Read more
Marcin & David, The Kyoto Distillery
Japan has become the latest market to experience the gin revolution, with two pioneering British spirits experts at the forefront. Gin enthusiasts Marcin Miller and David Croll have long associations with the country, and have established Japan’s first dedicated artisanal gin distillery. In 2016, they launched KI NO BI (‘The Beauty of the Seasons’) Kyoto Dry Gin, inspired by Japanese Read more
News featuring The Kyoto Distillery
