Roku Gin Brings Japanese Green Tea To Malaysia With Its New Noryo Tea Edition

Roku Gin’s latest limited-edition expression brings Sencha, Gyokuro, and a whole lot of Japanese summer refreshment to the glass.

Gin and green tea might not be the first pairing that springs to mind when you think about your next drink, but then again, that’s probably what makes it so interesting. Roku Gin has taken two Japanese teas, Sencha and Gyokuro, and worked them into a new limited-edition expression designed with summer refreshment firmly in mind.

Called Roku Gin Noryo Tea Edition, the latest release is inspired by Noryo, which is the Japanese tradition of seeking out moments of refreshment during the warmer months. It combines the lighter, grassy character of Sencha with the deeper, more savoury umami notes of Gyokuro, before rounding the whole thing out with Roku’s usual collection of Japanese botanicals.

But enough about that, what does it actually taste like? Well, on the palate, it means plenty of tea up front, followed by citrus and a touch of sansho spice peeking through towards the finish. The bottle itself gets in on the act too, decked out in tea leaf illustrations and green accents, as well as a washi-inspired label that makes it look considerably more at home on a summer drinks table than your average bottle of gin.

But the new expression isn’t just being dropped onto shelves and left to fend for itself. Roku is also bringing its so-called Asia’s Smallest Tea Bar to Kuala Lumpur, with the first stop taking place at Coley from 17 to 22 August.

There, you’ll find tea-inspired cocktails including the Noryo Melon Fizz, as well as matcha cocktail masterclasses hosted by Shaun Liew, founder of ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha and a three-time Malaysia Brewers Cup champion. Those who sign up can also redeem a complimentary Noryo Melon Fizz, with participants in the masterclass receiving a Noryo Tea Edition cocktail and an exclusive Roku art handfan for their troubles.

From 1 September, the tea-themed cocktail programme will also make its way to Pahit, TeRu.Mi, Bar Gaya, and Dear Hearts and Chilled Spirits, with each bar creating its own serve using the new gin. It’s certainly an unconventional way to approach gin, but you know what? It’s just another excuse to put green tea in things, and you won’t find us passing those up.

All images are courtesy of Roku Gin