NOHGA HOTEL UENO TOKYO and Kuramae-based distillery startup Ethical Spirits have joined forces to create a craft gin upcycled from the ginger pulp generated during the production of Bistro NOHGA's housemade ginger syrup. The gin, named "Distiller's CUT TAITO Action with Bistro NOHGA," went on sale at the hotel's restaurant Bistro NOHGA on May 13, 2026.
NOHGA HOTEL UENO TOKYO operates under the theme "CRAFT Your Senses — Opening the Senses Through Artisan Skill and Spirit," fostering collaborations with traditional craft workshops and local shops in the surrounding neighborhood. Ethical Spirits, headquartered in Kuramae, Taito-ku, is a distillery startup that develops original craft gins using materials that would otherwise go to waste.
The two parties share a sustainable philosophy. The team at Bistro NOHGA noticed that the pressed ginger pulp from their housemade ginger syrup was simply being discarded, and approached Ethical Spirits about transforming it into a spirit. The result is a sweet, approachable gin that brings together the warmth of ginger and spice with the cool freshness of herbs — a fitting choice for early summer. Bistro NOHGA's chief Shotaro Kuroki shared his thoughts on the collaboration:
"Seeing waste ingredients transformed into a new gin was an eye-opening experience. Realizing this long-held dream with Ethical Spirits has deepened our commitment to sustainability. We recommend enjoying it with soda or tonic."
Product Overview: Distiller's CUT TAITO Action with Bistro NOHGA
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Distiller's CUT TAITO Action with Bistro NOHGA |
| Category | Spirits (Gin) |
| Alcohol content | 47% |
| Botanicals | Juniper berries, lemon peel, angelica root, lemongrass, licorice, hops, spearmint, green coriander seed, shell ginger, maqaw, lemon tea tree, ginger syrup remnants (pressed ginger pulp) |
| Price | Cocktails using this gin from ¥950 (tax included) |
The gin is available primarily at Bistro NOHGA, with limited sales at select locations within Taito-ku. Ethical Spirits also carries it at the Tokyo Riverside Distillery Official Store and the Bar & Dining Stage, while supplies last.
About the Distiller's CUT TAITO Action Series
The "Distiller's CUT" series breathes new life into the "heads" and "tails" — the first and last portions of each distillation run, which are typically discarded. These fractions are used as a base spirit and then redistilled with new botanicals to create a unique, limited-edition gin with each batch. "Distiller's CUT TAITO Action" is the regional community collaboration edition of this series, rooted in Taito-ku, where Ethical Spirits operates its Tokyo Riverside Distillery. The collaboration with Bistro NOHGA marks the very first release in this lineup.
Label Design: Cork Art Meets Upcycling
The label features a work of cork art created by hotel staff and guests using approximately 3,900 wine corks, produced to celebrate the hotel's fifth anniversary under the supervision of Tomoyuki Kubo of Kuramae art gallery and wine bar "Atelier Cork & Tip." The concept of "turning discarded corks into something of value" resonates closely with Ethical Spirits' guiding philosophy — "Nothing is Meaningless" — making the design a natural fit for this collaborative bottle.
A making-of video covering everything from the preparation process to the final labeling is available on YouTube:
Bistro NOHGA at NOHGA HOTEL UENO TOKYO
Bistro NOHGA is located on the first floor of NOHGA HOTEL UENO TOKYO. The restaurant focuses on locally sourced ingredients and natural preparation methods, serving French-inspired contemporary cuisine that reflects Japan's four seasons.
Hours
- Breakfast: 7:00 AM–10:00 AM
- Lunch: 11:30 AM–2:00 PM
- Café: 2:00 PM–6:00 PM
- Dinner: 6:00 PM–10:30 PM (Last order: course 8:30 PM / food 9:30 PM / drinks 10:00 PM)
Closed: Every Tuesday (breakfast service only — check the official website for the latest schedule)
