Kyoto Distillery Ki No Bi Sei Navy Strength Dry Gin

54.5% ABV | 750mL | Navy strength | 11 botanicals, six flavor groups — "Sei" (勢) means power — and Kyoto Distillery Ki No Bi Sei is the full-powered, navy-strength sibling of Ki No Bi. It uses the same 11 botanicals as the original — yellow yuzu, akamatsu (Japanese red pine), red shiso leaves, bamboo leaves, ginger, lemon, orris, gyokuro tea from Uji, green sanshō, kinome, and juniper — distilled in six distinct flavor groups, but the final blend is recalibrated ("tweaked") to showcase the botanicals at the higher proof rather than simply bottled stronger. Proofed with Fushimi water, famous for its purity as Kyoto's sake-brewing water. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.

Sei was originally bottled for the 2017 Tokyo International Bar Show and went on to win Best Gin for Gin & Tonic at IWSC 2018. It is made for contemporary mixologists: punchy, clean, and full-bodied, with classic Ki No Bi freshness given extra punch — yuzu and juniper sing on the nose, a creamy, full-bodied, refreshingly floral palate, and a long juniper-and-citrus finish. Thicker mouthfeel and higher proof let it stand up to mixers in a way delicate gins can't — the robust gin for a Negroni, Martini, or G&T that stays vivid.

Tasting notes

Nose: yuzu and juniper, classic Ki No Bi freshness with punch. Palate: punchy, clean, creamy, full-bodied — citrus, floral, all flavors enhanced in balance. Finish: long juniper and citrus. (Per the distillery and Master of Malt.)

Why buy it from Del Mesa Liquor

• 54.5% ABV — traditional British Navy Strength
• "Sei" = power — recalibrated high-proof blend, not just stronger Ki No Bi
• 11 Kyoto botanicals distilled in six flavor groups, proofed with Fushimi water
• Best Gin for Gin & Tonic, IWSC 2018
• Made for cocktails — thicker mouthfeel, full-bodied
• Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor

How to serve it

The distillery positions it for cocktails: a more robust G&T, a Negroni, or a Martini where the higher proof carries through the mixers.

Frequently asked questions

What does "Sei" mean?
勢 — power or force, from the higher concentration and fuller power of this bottling.

What is navy strength gin?
Historically, the strength at which gunpowder soaked in spilled navy rum would still ignite — the "gunpowder proof test" guaranteeing Royal Navy rations weren't watered down. 54.5% is the traditional British figure, distinct from the commonly cited 57% (100 UK proof).

Is Sei just Ki No Bi at higher proof?
No — the blend is recalibrated for the higher strength, with the botanicals re-balanced to showcase them at proof.

Ki No Bi vs Ki No Bi Sei — which should I buy?
The original (45.7%) is delicate and elegant; Sei (54.5%) is fuller-bodied and built for cocktails.