The result? An unspeakably cool gin for anyone who ever dreamed of being a space explorer as a kid, or enjoys looking up at the stars. The Jinzu take on the classic gin & tonic is a great way to explore the gin’s fresh juniper and citrus-filled flavours. In a bid to tap into the gin craze that shows no signs of slowing down, the trend for Japanese-inspired versions of the spirit has been sweeping the UK. Made with a variety of exotic ingredients, these gins contain one distinctly Japanese element that makes them perfect for spring. The key botanical is cherry blossom, the symbolic flower that is celebrated at festivals around Japan each spring.

Hollyoaks confirms truly mind-blowing twist as Peri Lomax and Romeo Nightingale’s huge secret revealedJinzu was launched in 2014 and was the invention of Dee Davis, an English bartender who created it a year earlier as an entrant to Diageo’s Show Your Spirit competition – which he won. Recommended serves of this 41.3 % spirit are Indian tonic and green apple, but it is also enjoyable supped neat, with a very passing resemblance to those cherry menthol sweets for sore throats, but in a far, far more subtle and pleasing way. The drink is produced via distillation in traditional copper pot stills and in a pioneering process is married with a touch of distilled sake for a smooth creamy finish. There is a mix of familiar and unfamiliar with Jinzu. On the one hand, juniper is still present (thank goodness) so we know it’s gin, but on the other, the unfamiliar (to me) earthiness of the Junmai sake gives a different finish. On the nose citrus from the yuzu together with juniper are evident. On the palate a good juniper and citrus flavour gives way to some floral notes from the cherry blossom. There is some warmth towards the end and it’s here that the sake comes through to create a smooth finish. How to drink Give up smoking or enjoy the biggest clouds of fruity or herb-tinged vapour possible with the best vapes Bombay Sapphire isn't for everyone, but this iteration of the spirit is worth a try. It's essentially a supercharged, punchier version of the original, with a lot more heat, and a lingering finish.

Starts with fresh botanicals; soft crisp juniper, with a subtle citrus character from coriander seeds. Jinzu gin was created by British bartender, Dee Davies for Diageo’s Show Your Spirit competition in 2013. Named after a river in Japan, Jinzu is a British gin with a Japanese flavour. Cherry blossom and yuzu are used as botanical ingredients and then Junmai sake is blended with the finished gin. Drinks powerhouse Diageo held a competition in 2013 'Show Your Spirit' and Jinzu, beating of some serious competition, went on to win!Distilled from a blend of Scottish gin, this zesty tipple also features Junmai sake, which is perhaps what provides the silky finish and subtle sweetness. We liked it vey much, and immediately compared it to another B&L discovery, Roku which also includes the tartness of Yuzu peel as one of its botanicals. Jinzu smells like a typical London dry – offering juniper and lime – but with floral notes from the cherry and addition of Angelica root. The Coriander provides the finishing warmth, while the sake introduces an earthy element, which is surprisingly pleasant. Jinzu draws on almost 250 years of distilling expertise to craft a classically British gin with a delicately Japanese twist. Many of the best (and my favourite) gins have been created by bartenders. Ford’s Gin (Simon Ford), Portobello Road (Jake F Burger), Aviation (Ryan Magarian) and West Winds (Jason Chan). And we're not just buying the bottles. We're investing in gin parties, gin tours, gin advent calendars, gin menus and more, suggesting the drink once known as 'Mother's Ruin' has not only cultivated a cult following, but become our nation's favourite spirit. It was brilliant in the saketini, with the addition of more junmai sake in place of vermouth, Jinzu really shone. The only drink where it fell a little flat for me was a Negroni. I think the ratios would have to be changed a little, as the usual 30ml of each ingredient nuked the delicate flavour of the Jinzu gin. Jinzu Negroni

To make the gin, juniper, coriander and angelica are added to a neutral grain spirit in a traditional copper pot still. They are allowed to macerate for a short while before the cherry blossom and yuzu are added. There is no set amount of time for each run, rather the distillers will decide when to cut based on their knowledge of distillates, but it can take anywhere between two to two and a half hours. The bottle has a cork stopper with a wooden top (this also featuring the bird), taking the bottle to premium product territory - it’d make a great gift, especially for those interested in gin, Japan or both. The next milestone for the brand now is to launch worldwide. An Australian launch is planned for later this year and we could see the gin going down well in luxury Asian markets, as it fuses both cultures with relative ease.

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The brand’s most renowned expression is Jinzu gin - a fresh juniper taste invigorated with zesty citrus and delicate hints of cherry blossom flavour, finished with a smooth sake. The gin boom, or ginaissance, is still going strong, with the British public buying more of the juniper-based tipple than ever before. Jinzu pushes the boundaries of gin with its marrying of different cultures and tastes. Flavour Profile: Feel free to adjust or even invert the vermouth/Old Tom ratios if you want something with a bit more punch.

As usual, I tried Jinzu neat, in a G&T, in a saketini and a negroni. Neat, it’s very smooth and easy to drink. Nothing overwhelming about the spirit at all. It makes decent G&T. Jinzu gin saketini garnished with umboshi The classic juniper and gin botanicals are complimented by zesty sweet yuzu lemon and delicate cherry blossom notes. The Roku Gin bottle is designed to reflect the aesthetics of Japan, with the six natural Japanese botanicals embossed on the hexagonal bottle symbolizing Roku – which means ‘six’ in Japanese. Sake, cherry blossom and yuzu - the aromatic Japanese citrus fruit - help create a sweet gin with a creamy mouthfeel. The perfect little tipple for a quirky martini. Japan has been riding high in popularity (and influence) across the food and drinks industry for the past 18 months, with Matcha and Yuzu having already swept the globe,” Olivier Ward, Editor and Co-Founder of Gin Foundry told Good Housekeeping. “Cherry blossom, and other ingredients are now surfacing more often, especially in gin, as drinkers dig deeper into the country and cuisine’s rich heritage and diverse flavour pairings. Combine this with an unquenchable thirst for pink drinks in the UK and it’s easy to see what there's such a phenomenal interest around products with it in."

Jinzu gin was created by British bartender Dee Davies, inspired by her journey to Japan and a lifelong passion for experimenting with flavours. Jinzu Gin is the unique idea from British barkeeper Dee Davies. Jinzu won Diageo?s high-profile competition ?Show Your Spirit? and was taken-on by the company. The spirit uses British gin as a base, having the classic juniper perfume which is beloved by millions. Sake from cherry blossom is adding during distillation to create a gin, the likes of which you have never seen before. Two alcohols in one, what could be better? Jinzu has a distinctive bouquet with fruity and floral notes, complemented by the intoxicating scent of sake. This special mixture is conversation-starter required to break the ice at that dull party you?ve been dragged to by your significant other. A clear, dry gin, Jinzu feels soft in your mouth and is quite an experience. The combination of English juniper berries and Japanese cheery blossom is an inspiration; more gins should have this combination! Jinzu Gin brings English and Japanese traditions together to create an exciting, intriguing spirit. It's made with a blend of Scottish gin (featuring juniper, coriander, angelica, yuzu and Japanese cherry blossom as botanicals) and sake, which brings a luxurious, creamy mouth feel and a subtle, compelling sweetness to its flavour profile. Distiller Desmond Payne was inspired by the Chelsea Physic Garden, just round the corner from the original Beefeater distillery, and has created a lovely herbaceous concoction with hints of lemon verbena and thyme.