Sakura Flower

The sakura flower, or cherry blossom, is one of Japan’s most iconic symbols—celebrated for its fleeting beauty and cultural significance. As a gin botanical, it offers a delicate floral note that brings elegance and refinement to the spirit. Used carefully, sakura imparts soft, slightly sweet aromas reminiscent of rose and almond, contributing to a nuanced and layered flavour profile.

Harvested in spring during its short blooming season, the sakura flower must be treated gently to preserve its subtle character. In gin production, it is often used alongside sakura leaf to create a fuller expression of the blossom’s essence. The flowers are typically macerated or distilled to extract their delicate oils, which are then balanced with juniper and complementary botanicals to avoid overpowering the core gin profile.

Sakura is notably featured in Roku Gin by the House of Suntory, where it is one of six Japanese botanicals. It contributes to the gin’s light, floral top notes and helps capture the spirit of Japanese seasonality and craftsmanship.

As a botanical, sakura adds not just flavour and aroma, but a sense of place and emotion—offering a poetic touch to gin that aligns beautifully with the modern appetite for authenticity and artisanal production.