Benizakura Distillery — Local services in Sapporo

A stunning little gin distillery that hopes to branch into whiskey in the future. I booked a gin tasting one day in advance which I recommend, but they were extremely flexible and accommodating to me (I arrived 1hr before my booking time and before their official opening hours, but they still welcomed me in from the cold with a smile and we started early). As someone who doesn't like gin at all I was impressed by the uniqueness of their bottles and particularly enjoyed 'sakura' and 'powder snow'. I went solo and speak no Japanese but the lovely lady who took me through the tasting made a real effort to explain in English which heightened my experience. Because of these reasons I bought a bottle as a gift and would have bought more if my suitcase wasn't already full. Don't let the distance from Sapporo City scare you away, this is...

Small distillery. It's way off the beaten path but not a hard walk from the train station. The woman was very friendly and spoke enough English to get the important elements across. I'm not a gin fan myself, but many in our group are. They loved the varieties. I am especially intrigued by the snowflake gin which has flakes of silver, making it look like a snow glibe. She had what appeared to be un-aged whisky, which I did not care for.

The tasting is done in a loft overlooking the distillation floor.

So, good gin (I'm told), friendly staff, whiskey...

It’s a small distillery, but knowledgeable staff passionately share the story and craft behind each bottle. A visit to Benizakura distillery promises a sensory journey into the world of gin, leaving you with an appreciation for the artistry and dedication involved in creating...