Bourbon Barrel-Aged Amber Craft Gin "Koto" Now Available

KURAND Inc. (Head Office: Adachi-ku, Tokyo; Representative Director: Kyoaki荻原) will begin lottery sales for the craft gin "Koto" on July 1, 2026, at 17:00 via "KURAND," the online liquor store operated by the company. (https://kurand.jp/pages/koto)

About "Koto"

"Koto" is a bourbon barrel-aged craft gin using Japanese botanicals. Unlike typical clear gins, the base spirit is aged in bourbon barrels that were used to mature American whiskey. This barrel aging imparts an amber color similar to whiskey, along with a rich body and a sweet aroma reminiscent of vanilla.

The Appeal of "Koto"

"Koto" captivates with the harmony of its layered aromas, derived from bourbon barrel flavors and carefully selected Japanese botanicals. The base ingredients include Japanese plants associated with the mountains, such as Arima sansho pepper, camphor branches, green tea, perilla, and yuzu. When poured into a glass, the refreshing scent of juniper berry and citrus spreads, along with the woody notes from the barrel. It has a pleasant sweetness on the palate. Drinking it on the rocks enhances the deep aftertaste, while mixing it with soda gently expands its aroma.

Product Details

【Koto】

Genre: Craft Gin

Alcohol Content: 43% Volume: 500ml

Botanicals: Juniper berry, yuzu, green tea leaves (Kobe-produced), Arima sansho pepper (Kobe-produced), camphor branches (Kobe-produced), perilla (Kobe-produced)

Manufacturer: Kobe Distillery (Hyogo Prefecture) Sales Price: 9,800 yen (tax included)

About the Distillery

<Kobe Distillery (Hyogo Prefecture)>

The "Kobe Distillery" was established with the aim of creating new specialty products from the historic city of Kobe. Surrounded by mountains, the spirits are aged in a natural environment with significant temperature differences throughout the year and high humidity. They meticulously develop distilled spirits over time.

<Awards>

International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) Bronze

Lottery Sales Information

Product: Koto

Sales Price: 9,800 yen (tax included)

Application Period: July 1, 2026 (Wed) 17:00 - July 15, 2026 (Wed) 13:00

Winner Notification: July 15, 2026 (Wed) onwards

Shipping Period: Scheduled to ship sequentially from late October 2026

Special Site: https://kurand.jp/pages/koto

Online Liquor Store "KURAND"

KURAND is an online liquor store that opens up the world of craft sake. All of the over 500 types of carefully selected craft liquors are original products available only at KURAND. It is a place where you can discover new craft liquors across all genres, including Japanese sake, plum wine, fruit wine, shochu, craft beer, and wine.

Official HP: https://kurand.jp