Sydney’s Archie Rose Distilling Co. are always into something new, but this latest collaboration is a bit different for them, paying homage to native Japanese ingredients with a new gin collaboration. The partnership has the Archie Rose crew teaming up with acclaimed tattoo artist Kian Forreal, better known as Shodai Horisumi, resulting in an expression they are calling Horisumi Autumn.
The new release has been inspired by a mutual respect for nature and craftmanship and is the first in four-part series of expressions that will roll out this year, each celebrating the unique character of each Japanese season. The Horisumi Autumn is said to lift the spice-driven notes of red miso, sesame seed and Sansho pepper, unique ingredients that may come as a surprise to many gin fans across Australia. The liquid sits in a bottle wrapped with a bespoke label showcasing Horisumi’s distinct way of reflecting the transitional tones of a Japanese Autumn.
“This collaboration is very unique and one which challenges our typical product development process”, explained Archie Rose founder Will Edwards. “We were presented with an opportunity to create a spirit from a totally different perspective whereby Horisumi’s artwork, its symbolism and the Japanese seasons lead the spirit. Usually it’s all about botanicals and production processes, with the packaging developed to complement the spirit, so to flip that process on its head and have Horisumi’s illustrations lead the production was really exciting”.
The deep, earthy characteristics should position this as one of most unique gin releases the country has seen in quite some time, the first 200 bottles of which will be hand-wrapped in a traditional Japanese furoshiki featuring the individual bottle number and Autumn kanji.
“The beauty of gin, unlike whisky with its stricter rules and voda which, by its very definition, is a fairly neutral spirit, is that it is the most open to interpretation and experimentation”, offered Edwards. “We’ve already begun botanical testing and are looking froward to the challenge of creating the remaining three Horisumi gins and launching them at the commencement of each season throughout the year”.
Archie Rose Horisumi Autumn will be available from Wednesday 1st March and can be purchased from the official Archie Rose website for an RRP of $99.
Image supplied and credited to Nikki To.
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