Nikka Coffey Japanese Gin
Nikka Coffey Japanese Gin is a 750mL gin bottled at 47% ABV (94 proof), distilled at Nikka's Miyagikyo Distillery in Japan from corn and malted barley distillates made in Coffey continuous stills. Eleven botanicals — led by four Japanese citruses: yuzu, kabosu, amanatsu and shequasar (shikuwasa) — are distilled in three separate distillates and blended for balance. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL (US bottling)
- Botanicals: 11 — juniper, coriander, angelica, lemon peel, orange peel, yuzu, kabosu, amanatsu, shequasar, apple, sansho pepper
- Base: Corn and malted barley Coffey distillates
- Distillery: Miyagikyo, Japan
- Origin: Japan
A Gin Built on a Whisky Still
The Coffey still — the world's first patented continuous still, invented by Aeneas Coffey in 1830 — gives Nikka's whiskies their silky texture, and in 2017 the Coffey range gained this gin (Nikka has distilled gin and vodka since the 1960s, with blending skills inherited from founder Masataka Taketsuru). The botanicals are distilled in three separate distillates, then blended: traditional gin botanicals against a bright frame of Japanese citrus, a touch of apple — a fruit woven through Nikka's history since its apple-juice founding — and green sansho pepper at the finish. Explore more on the Nikka Whisky vendor page, or compare its stablemate from Chichibu, Chichibu Ichiro's Malt & Grain.
Tasting Notes
Per the producer: a bright, zesty aroma from the four Japanese citruses set against juniper, angelica, coriander and citrus peels; the silky Coffey texture carries a touch of apple through the middle; and a pleasantly tangy hint of green sansho pepper closes the finish.
How to Enjoy
Serve it in a gin and tonic with a citrus twist to let the yuzu and kabosu lead, or in a Martini where the silky base spirit shows. More Japanese spirits are on the Nikka Whisky vendor page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Coffey Gin contain coffee?
No. "Coffey" is the surname of Aeneas Coffey, inventor of the continuous still the gin is distilled in — there is no coffee in the recipe.
What botanicals are in Nikka Coffey Gin?
Eleven: juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica, lemon and orange peels, the Japanese citruses yuzu, kabosu, amanatsu and shequasar, plus apple and Japanese sansho pepper.
What size and strength is this bottling?
This is the US bottling: 750mL at 47% ABV (94 proof). Some overseas markets receive a 700mL bottle — a different package of the same gin.
Silky, citrus-bright and unmistakably Japanese — order Nikka Coffey Gin online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.
