We distill at Charles’s facility in London. Kokoro had to be a London Dry; there’s a real art to the process, a single distillation with no additional blending of flavours after production. With London Dry Gin, you need to understand what each botanical brings to the process and finely balance your recipe. For me, that idea of harmony and balance resonates with our forest inspiration.

Every sip of Kokoro Gin Liqueur is not merely a taste but a journey, transporting the spirit to the misty, enchanting forests of Japan, whispering ancient tales and inviting one to explore the boundless realms of flavour that lie between the traditional and the exotic. It is an invitation to lose oneself, finding their "Kokoro", or heart, within the ethereal tapestry of flavours crafted with meticulous detail and boundless passion. Yuzu is a Japanese citrus fruit that tastes like a cross between a lime and a grapefruit, while cherry blossom has a uniquely floral flavour with a soft hint of cherry.Kokoro Blueberry & Lemongrass, Yuku & Ginger and Cherry Blossom will be available to the off and on-trade via Mangrove this month.

The brand is named after George Chinnery, the English painter, who began his career in Dublin, before travelling to China. The bottle is inspired by these two parts of his career – Georgian Dublin and Imperial China. Kokoro is a Japanese word that translates as 'heart', but it’s not the literal, physical, beating heart, more the centre the very the essence of something. When you think about the forest, the aromas, the sounds, that primal feeling of being where you belong. There’s something almost spiritual about being there surrounded by nature with all its variety. Kokoro describes that feeling and sums up our ethos; there was no other word we could use to name our gin. I’ve always been a gin drinker and before we had all the wonderful choices we have now Tanqueray Gin was my ‘go to’ drink.

21. FISHERS GIN

These are the unsung heroes of our story; the delicate botanicals that enrich and enhance the experience; the sublime subtleties that transport you to the heart of the forest.

Charles knows his stuff and has a real passion for his work, we worked together to smooth off the rough edges, and after just a couple of trial distillations, we hit on the final recipe. It has everything I wanted and captures the flavour journey of the sansho berries in a way that is still sympathetic to a classic gin style. Kokoro London Dry Gin is introducing a range of three premium gin liqueurs with flavours from Japan. Aroma: Kokoro Gin smells strikingly classic. Orange, angelica root, juniper and coriander. Citrus forward, it’s welcoming, albeit a bit hot.James Nichol, managing director at Forest Spirits, which produces Kokoro Gin, said: “Our deal with Mangrove will allow us to take Kokoro Gin to a larger market. We know that Mangrove only works with the highest quality products, so this is a perfect partnership. It is a significant step for us in growing the brand.” Sales of Kokoro Gin have increased by 36% over the 12 months, with a listing in Morrisons and new members of the team to help grow the brand.