Kanazawa, historically celebrated for its Samurai heritage and artisanal traditions, is establishing itself as a significant player in the craft gin industry through the innovative work of local distilleries Alembic and Oriental Brewing. The city's unique geographical position between the Sea of Japan and the Japanese Alps provides access to pristine mountain water and diverse botanicals that form the foundation of these distinctive spirits.
Alembic, Kanazawa's first spirits distillery located in the historic port town of Ono, has gained international recognition for its Alembic Dry Gin HACHIBAN. This flagship product, crafted with eight botanicals including local ingredients and extra juniper berries, earned a Gold Medal at the IWSC 2023 for its fresh grapefruit-like citrus notes and complex flavor layers. The distillery continues to innovate with small-batch releases aged in Portuguese Madeira wine casks, an uncommon practice in Japan, with future plans to develop original casks from Ishikawa-grown wood.
Oriental Brewing, one of Kanazawa's leading craft beer breweries, has successfully translated its brewing expertise into gin production. Their unique approach incorporates carefully selected local ingredients including Kanazawa yuzu, Kaga bōcha (roasted stem tea), and kuromoji. Most notably, the distillery has developed an innovative upcycling process using sake rice bran—typically discarded during sake production—through specialized distillation techniques. This process results in their blanc craft gin, which features a subtle, natural sweetness derived from the rice component.
The emergence of Kanazawa as a gin destination reflects broader trends in the spirits industry toward localization and sustainability. Visitors can now participate in enhanced experiences including meetings with master distillers, guided tastings paired with fresh local cuisine, and access to exclusive limited releases unavailable elsewhere globally. This development represents how traditional Japanese craftsmanship, combined with modern innovation and local resources, can create products that compete on the world stage while maintaining deep connections to regional identity and heritage.
