SAKURAO GIN HAMAGOU2024 | SAKURAO DISTILLERY

The aroma of Miyajima’s blessings of nature

In midsummer, the Hamagou’s vibrant purple flowers bloom on the seaside.
The fresh fragrance of Hamagou was used as incense from long ago.
Many Hamagou grow naturally in Miyajima, a World Heritage Site located near The SAKURAO DISTILLERY.
Miyajima has been conseved and left the nature of the Seto Inland Sea.
We have added Hamagou, that grows in this “Botanical heaven”,
along with other botanicals from Hiroshima,
distilled in a traditional way.
Please enjoy the fresh fragrance and rich flavor of HAMAGOU the 7th batch.

JAPANESE DRY GIN 桜尾 HAMAGOU

2024 EDITION has a subtle sweet aroma and a
strong herbal fragrance, derived from refreshing Hamagou.

SAKURAO GIN is produced by a German-made copper hybrid still
and is distilled using a hybrid method (combination of steeping and vapor methods),
which is the best way to extract the flavors of each and every botanicals.
Please enjoy the combination of Hamagou’s herbal fragrance and floral aroma with SAKURAO GIN HAMAGOU.

HAMAGOU

Hiroshima

Hamagou has a distinct herbal fragrance that was even used as incense in the Heian period (794-1185).
ROSEMARY

Hiroshima

You can enjoy a fresh and strong herbal aroma from Rosemary.
SHIRANUI

Hiroshima

Shiranui is a citrus fruit known for little sourness and strong sweetness.
LAVENDER

Hiroshima

Lavender has a beautiful, long lasting fragrance that enhances Hamagou’s herbal aroma.
GREEN TEA

Hiroshima

We use special, unprocessed tea to bring out the fresh flavor of Green tea.
SPEARMINT

Hiroshima

Spearmint has a faint sweet aroma that adds a gentle fresh flavor to our gin.

JUNIPER BERRY

We've selected Juniper berries from France, which adds a gorgeous top note to the strong aroma of gin.
ANGELICA ROOT

Angelica root has a bitter and spicy fragrance along with a soft sweet aroma.
LICORICE

Licorice gives a woody fragrance that makes you feel like you are in a forest.
CORIANDER SEED

Coriander seed gives both a soft citrus aroma and a spicy flavor.
VANILLA BEAN

Vanilla bean creates a sweet aftertaste.
CARAWAY SEED

Caraway seed adds depth to the gin with its minty and spicy aroma.

Miyajima where Hamagou grows,
has long kept natural environment of the Seto Inland Sea.

Many kinds of plants grow in the “Botanical heaven”, Miyajima. The nature has attracted attention from many researchers. Here is the time to solve the mystery.

The key for this gin that symbolizes Hiroshima is Hamagou which grows in MIYAJIMA

The main character of the gin is the refreshing herbal fragrance of Hamagou. We heard that Hamagou grows naturally in Miyajima, a World Heritage Site located near The SAKURAO DISTILLERY and make a visit to A/Prof. Tsubota at Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University.

Miyajima remains a natural environment of the Seto Inland Sea, kept by wild deer and nature.

Approximately one third of Hiroshima’s plants grow naturally in Miyajima. Miyajima has long kept natural environment of the Seto Inland Sea and is a very precious place in the world. Miyajima is the sacred place where a god is enshrined, and the faith from ancient times influenced this place to keep the rich nature. Wild deer play also a great role in keeping the nature. Deer are one of the most famous animals in Miyajima, we can see them everywhere. They eat plants naturally growing in island. There are plants that are hard to eat because of chemical ingredients from odor, and so on. The plants in Miyajima show their own adaptation, in order to cope with the deer, and got to have thorns on leaf or a branch. People didn’t get into the Miyajima’s forest for a long time, in the belief that it is sacred place. We have to leave Miyajima’s natural environment for feature.

Miyajima remains various plants full of vigor, even though the harsh growth environment.

The soil of Miyajima is constituted by granite, therefore there are few nutritious substances and it is said to be a harsh growth environment for plants. Even though such a poor soil, plants are rooting strongly in the land in Miyajima. Some of them are being designated as an endangered species. A/Prof. Tsubota told, “Some researchers said that Miyajima is a microcosm of Japan's nature. Through the study of Miyajima, you can understand nature throughout Japan.” At his laboratory, they proceed with the studies to protect nature of Miyajima island day after day. Be careful not to put a strain on the vegetation, and they are also working on the nature regeneration that was lost in the past.

Natural coast and the Seto Inland Sea’s environment are being lost

We focused on the refreshing herbal fragrance of Hamagou for a main character of the gin. Hamagou grows at beachside of Miyajima and the beachside is carpeted with pale purple flowers in summer. Rich environment of the seaside where Hamagou grows, changes from the sea, shore, and top of mountain. Hamagou could be found only in place where natural coast remains. It suppresses the sand flowing away from the sea shore, and helps providing a home for many living organisms. The coast is a particularly important place to connect sea and land in Miyajima's nature. The rich ecosystem that continues from sea through the coast to the top of the mountain was long kept in Miyajima. The gin "SAKURAO GIN HAMAGOU" is made with precious botanicals, releases the rich aroma of Miyajima’s blessings of nature.

□PROFILE: HIROMI TSUBOTA
Associate professor, Dr. Sci.
Miyajima Natural Botanical Garden Graduate School of Science Hiroshima University
□Research Field: Biology; Basic biology; Biodiversity / Systematics
Biology; Basic biology; Ecology / Environment
Biology; Basic biology; Evolutionary biology

Keep the ecosystem, protect the Hamagou and rich nature of island

Miyajima is conserved with many laws. The Hamagou used in SAKURAO GIN is permitted, and picked with careful consideration of the impact on Miyajima’s environment. As a class of UNESCO Associated School, Miyajima Gakuen (Miyajima elementary school / Miyajima junior high school) and A/Prof. Tsubota conduct cleanup activities and observation on living organisms, articles washed ashore, etc., at beach where Hamagou grows. We also participated in the activities and we are working together to conserve the island’s rich nature and Hamagou for the future. We pick up artifacts like plastics and leave natural objects like driftwood, which is the cleanup way to keep the rich nature for the future.

Vegetation restoration projects around the Miyajima Ropeway Shishiiwa Station are led by UNESCO School Miyajima Gakuen, Hiroshima Forest Administration Department, Hiroshima University, and Miyajima Ropeway. We are working together to restore the natural environment from the perspective of environmental protection, landscape protection, and disaster prevention.