Ao-Oni Dry Japanese Aperitif

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 18% | Chill filtration: Yes | Colouring: No

Special Features:

Ao-Oni Dry brings together a Japanese rice wine base and the herbal bitterness of a dry aperitif. Hon Mirin and sake form the base, with wormwood at the heart of the botanical ingredients. These also include lemon, apple, ginger, hyssop and cinnamon. Macerating wormwood and other botanicals gives the liqueur its dry, herb-led character.

The rice wine base gives the aperitif a silky texture, while wormwood, citrus and spices provide a bitter counterpoint. At 18% alcohol, Ao-Oni Dry works both as a well-chilled aperitif and as an ingredient in a Dry Martini. The dark brown bottle features a blue Oni demon mask design.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: Lively apple and citrus notes meet herbal aromas on the nose. Cinnamon adds a subtle touch of spice.
• Palate: The palate reveals the bitterness of wormwood, accompanied by spicy herbs and lively citrus notes. The flavour is distinctly dry and balanced.
• Finish: The long, dry finish leaves herbal notes reminiscent of essential oils and a delicate touch of spice.

Distillery/Bottler:

Kanegasaki Distillery was founded in 2021 in Kanegasaki, in the northern Japanese prefecture of Iwate. Its founder, Kazuma Oikawa, previously worked as a bartender in Tokyo. His encounters with international spirits there led him to develop his own Japanese herbal liqueurs.

The distillery grows its own plants and processes them alongside regional fruit. Around 50 herb species grow on the KSP Medicinal Herb Farm. Fruit and vegetables from Iwate that would otherwise be discarded are also used in production. Its work on herbal liqueurs also includes developing its own Hon Mirin. In doing so, the distillery draws on a Japanese tradition: during the Edo period, mirin was considered a luxury drink and was also used as a base for herbal preparations.

Facts: