Ki No Bi Gin Is at the Epicenter of Japanese Craft Spirits

The Kyoto Distillery isn’t just the birthplace of Japanese craft gin—it’s the beating heart of a new spirits movement. Founded by Marcin Miller, David Croll, and Noriko Kakuda Croll, this pioneering distillery blends deep roots in the whisky world with an adventurous spirit and a love for Kyoto’s timeless culture.

The story starts in the 1990s, when Marcin—then editor and publisher of Whisky Magazine—joined forces with David to launch the Japanese-language edition. Their shared passion for exceptional spirits quickly grew into something bigger. In 2000, they co-founded Whisky Live, now one of the world’s premier tasting events, with shows held across the globe.

David and Noriko Croll were already making waves in Japan’s spirits scene, bringing in cult Scotch brands like Springbank, Isle of Arran, and the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. They helped introduce Japanese drinkers to small-scale producers like Sipsmith and premium mixers like Fever-Tree—long before they were household names.

Marcin’s pedigree is just as impressive: he’s a Keeper of the Quaich, a Kentucky Colonel, a Warden Rectifier of the Gin Guild, and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Distillers. In 2005, the three partners founded Number One Drinks Company, which became a game-changer in the global appreciation of Japanese whisky. Through them, rare and legendary bottlings from Karuizawa and Hanyu reached connoisseurs around the world. In fact, it was David and Marcin who sent K&L the first—and only—retail barrels of Karuizawa ever sold in the U.S. We’ve followed their journey ever since as they’ve built a reputation as some of the most influential curators in the industry.

After a decade of success, the team felt it was time for a new adventure. Drawn to Kyoto—a city they had always held close to their hearts—David and Noriko made the bold decision to set up a distillery in Japan’s ancient capital. Their goal: to create the country’s first distillery dedicated entirely to gin.

That vision became reality with the founding of The Kyoto Distillery. After two years of rigorous experimentation, they launched KI NO BI ("The Beauty of the Seasons") Kyoto Dry Gin in October 2016. Made with local botanicals sourced mainly from Kyoto Prefecture and developed in collaboration with traditional artisans, KI NO BI balances precision, creativity, and reverence for Japanese craftsmanship.

From there, the team pushed boundaries even further. Their limited Ki Noh Bi series—aged gins adorned with traditional Noh theater masks—created a new category of collectible spirits. The final edition, Ki No Bi 4 Year Old "Noh Mask - 31th Edition" K&Li Exclusive Premier Cru Classé Sauternes Barrel Aged Kyoto Dry Gin (700ml) $179.99, is decorated with the Sanko-jo mask, known as “The Old Man.” Thought to represent a Buddhist monk named Sankobo, Sanko-jo is said to be the first to carve Noh-style masks. It’s a symbol of age, wisdom, and the evolution that comes from innovation—perfect for marking this milestone release.

That’s why Edition No. 31 was chosen as both the first-ever U.S. exclusive and the last Ki Noh Bi Noh Mask Edition to be released. The previous U.S. edition now commands several times its original price on the secondary market, and this final release—already sold out at the House of Ki No Bi in Kyoto—is destined to become one of the most collectible gins ever bottled.

Elegant, expressive, and deeply tied to both place and tradition, this is not just a bottle—it’s a piece of Japanese spirits history.

- David Othenin-Girard, K&L Spirits Buyer