Ki No Tea Kyoto Dry Gin arrives from the Ki No Bi stable — a brand that has, in relatively short order, established itself as one of the most compelling propositions in the global gin market. At 45.1% ABV, this expression sits comfortably in that sweet spot where botanical complexity can genuinely express itself without the alcohol becoming a blunt instrument. The "Tea" in the name signals an obvious focal point, and it positions this bottling squarely in the conversation around Japanese tea-infused spirits that has gathered serious momentum in recent years.
A Strategic Expression
What interests me about Ki No Tea is the commercial intelligence behind it. Ki No Bi has built its reputation on precision and a distinctly Japanese approach to gin-making — one that treats botanicals with the same reverence a tea master might bring to a ceremony. This expression leans into that identity rather than away from it. Categorised as a London Dry, it must meet the strict production standards that designation demands, which makes the tea integration all the more intriguing. You cannot simply mask shortcuts behind a fashionable ingredient when the London Dry rulebook is in play.
At £51.50, this is premium territory, but not unreasonably so given the brand's pedigree and the specificity of the expression. It occupies a gap in the market between everyday craft gins and the ultra-limited bottlings that collectors hoard. Bartenders I know who stock Ki No Bi reach for it when they want to signal sophistication without pretension — and this tea variant gives them another tool in that kit.
I would rate Ki No Tea Kyoto Dry Gin an 8 out of 10. It represents a brand operating with clear intent and genuine craft credentials.
Best Served
A refined G&T with a light tonic and a twist of yuzu peel, or served in a Martini where its subtlety can command the glass. This is the sort of bottle that sells itself in cocktail bars where the clientele reads the back label.
