Roku Gin’s limited-edition Noryo Tea Edition puts two prized Japanese green teas at the heart of a distinctly summery gin, bringing sencha, gyokuro, yuzu, and sansho together in an elegant new expression.
There is something particularly appealing about the idea behind Roku Gin’s latest limited edition. Rather than simply adding another flavour to an already crowded gin category, the Japanese brand has looked to one of its own most deeply rooted traditions – tea – for inspiration.. and we really enjoyed it ourselves!
The result is Roku Gin Noryo Tea Edition, a seasonal expression that brings together two Japanese green teas, sencha and gyokuro, with Roku’s familiar six Japanese botanicals. It is the second release in the brand’s Seasonal Festival Collection, following the Sakura Bloom Edition launched in 2024, and the new expression has now arrived in Malaysia.
The concept is built around Noryo, which is not a strain of tea (as we initially thought), but rather a Japanese tradition centred on seeking moments of refreshment and tranquillity during the height of summer. It is a rather nice philosophy for a gin, particularly in Malaysia, where the search for something cool and refreshing is hardly restricted to one season. Here, there’s virtually never a day on which a refreshing gin and tonic isn’t a bad choice!
For those familiar with Roku, the tea connection also makes a lot of sense. The gin already incorporates six Japanese botanicals selected to represent the seasons, and the Noryo Tea Edition focuses particularly on sencha and gyokuro, harvested at their seasonal peak. The former brings a lively, fresh character, while the latter contributes more depth, sweetness, and subtle umami notes.
TEA MEETS GIN
From a spirits perspective, this is an interesting combination. Green tea can be a most effective partner for gin, particularly when the botanicals are handled with restraint. Sencha tends to bring a grassy, almost vegetal freshness, while gyokuro is richer and more intensely savory, with the notable umami character that makes it such a distinctive Japanese tea.
Roku’s tasting profile reflects that balance. The nose begins delicately, with grassy sencha alongside soft citrus and familiar gin botanicals. On the palate, the richer character of gyokuro emerges, bringing sweetness and umami into the equation while retaining the lighter, floral qualities of sencha. The finish moves toward yuzu citrus and bright sansho spice, with the tea and gin characteristics gradually settling into a harmonious conclusion. We really liked this gin and felt that the tea connection was a natural, unforced marriage.
At 43% ABV, this is still recognizably a serious gin rather than a tea-flavoured novelty, and that is important. The appeal of a seasonal expression such as this is ultimately going to rest on whether the additional ingredients enhance the spirit rather than overwhelm it. Here, the stated profile suggests a thoughtful balance between freshness, umami, citrus, spice, and Roku’s underlying gin character.
The packaging admittedly plays its part, too – this is one attractive Roku Gin bottling! The limited-edition bottle features tea-leaf illustrations, green accents, a washi-inspired label, and botanical elements embossed into the glass. It manages to communicate the tea theme without abandoning the clean, distinctly Japanese visual language that has become synonymous with Roku.
A LITTLE JAPANESE TEA BAR IN KL
Roku is taking the launch considerably further than simply putting bottles onto retail shelves. In Malaysia, the brand created what it calls Asia’s Smallest Tea Bar, a pop-up at Coley which ran from August 17 through 22, where visitors were able to explore tea-inspired cocktails, matcha experiences, and the Noryo Tea Edition itself.
Among the featured drinks was the Noryo Melon Fizz (our favourite), while limited-seat matcha cocktail masterclasses were hosted by Shaun Liew, founder of ONO Specialty Coffee & Matcha and a three-time Malaysia Brewers Cup champion. Participants received a Noryo Tea Edition cocktail and an exclusive Roku Noryo art handfan.
The programme then moved beyond Coley, with Pahit, TeRu.Mi, Bar Gaya, and Dear Hearts and Chilled Spirits each developing their own venue-exclusive Roku Noryo serves beginning from September 1. That is arguably where things get particularly interesting for gin drinkers: a single expression interpreted by several bartenders can reveal just how versatile a tea-driven gin can be. So even if you missed the Tea Bar launch at Coley, there are still plenty of opportunities to explore this new gin in September!
Roku Gin Noryo Tea Edition is available in a 700ml bottle at 43% ABV, with a recommended retail price of RM248. It is being offered through selected retail and on-trade locations in Malaysia.
For anyone who enjoys gin but is equally fascinated by the wider world of Japanese spirits and tea, this looks to us like a particularly appealing crossover. It takes two very different drinking cultures and finds the common ground between them – freshness, precision, seasonality, and an appreciation for ingredients at their best. We liked the Sakura Bloom edition that launched here two years ago, but this one is even better – our opinion only, of course!
And beyond that, frankly, any gin designed around the Japanese art of keeping cool in summer seems more than appropriate for Kuala Lumpur! Cheers!
