The Kyoto Distillery was founded in 2014 by Noriko Kakuda Croll, David Croll and Marcin Miller. After two years of research and experiments, they launched their KI NO BI gin in October 2016. Most of the ingredients (Sansho pepper, yuzu, Gyokuro tea, Japanese Cypress, etc.) are sourced locally from the areas surrounding Kyoto and distilled individually in a rice-based spirit. The three acolytes also co-founded Number One Drinks, famous for introducing whisky fans to various now-legendary distilleries such as Karuizawa and Hanyu.

Special editions of Ki No Bi are particularly sought after because they are matured in casks from iconic distilleries. This fifth version, for example, was matured in a sherry cask previously used for Caroni’’s legendary rum. As for certain bottlings of Karuizawa, a collaboration with the Noh theatre enables Ki No Bi to uses its famous masks on their bottles.