Masahiro Okinawa Gin Recipe 01
Masahiro Okinawa Gin Recipe 01 is Okinawa's first craft gin — 47% ABV (94 proof), 750mL, built on an awamori rice-spirit base by Masahiro Shuzo of Itoman, with six botanicals: juniper, shekwasha citrus, guava leaves, goya bitter melon, roselle hibiscus and long pepper. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 47% (94 proof)
- Size: 750mL (US bottling)
- Base: Awamori (Okinawan distilled rice spirit)
- Botanicals: Juniper, shekwasha, guava leaves, goya (bitter melon), roselle, long pepper
- Origin: Itoman, Okinawa, Japan (Masahiro Shuzo, founded 1883)
- Award: Silver, Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2019
An Awamori House Makes Gin
Masahiro Shuzo has made awamori in Okinawa since 1883 — the Higa family behind it traces its licence to a master chef of the Ryukyu Kingdom — and Recipe 01 applies that rice-spirit craft to gin: Okinawa's first craft gin, pot-distilled on an awamori base and flavoured with the island itself, from shekwasha citrus and bitter goya to guava leaf and roselle. It is a London-dry drinker's gin only in its juniper spine; everything around that spine is Okinawan. Find it among our gin selection, or browse the producer's range on the Masahiro vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Fresh shekwasha citrus and juniper with floral notes (producer/importer). Palate: Bright citrus zest with a balanced bitter-sweetness, pepper and minerality, roselle adding dryness, and green, tropical notes from the goya and guava leaf. Finish: Smooth and refreshing, with tingling pepper spice.
How to Enjoy
Build a gin and tonic with a citrus garnish and let the shekwasha lead, or use it in a Martini where the awamori base's softness shows. It also stands up in a Gimlet or a white Negroni.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is awamori? Okinawa's traditional distilled rice spirit. Masahiro is an awamori distillery, and Recipe 01 uses awamori as its base spirit instead of neutral grain spirit.
Is Recipe 01 the same as Recipe 02? No — Recipe 02 is a separate bottling with a completely different botanical set (tankan citrus, lemongrass, ginger and others). Recipe 01 is the shekwasha-and-goya original.
Why is it 47% ABV? That is the producer's bottling strength for this gin — stronger than the common 40–43% band, which carries the citrus and pepper botanicals with more weight.
Island botanicals on a rice-spirit base — pick up Masahiro Okinawa Gin Recipe 01 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.