Quick answer: buy Sipsmith London Dry Gin if you want a classic, juniper-led gin for martinis, negronis, and a traditional G&T. It’s £26.25 for 70cl at The Whisky Exchange. Buy Roku Gin if you want a gin that tastes of Japan: cherry blossom, green tea, yuzu, and a peppery sansho finish, at £29.95 for 70cl. The detail most comparisons miss is that both brands belong to Suntory, so this isn’t a small-maker-versus-big-company choice. It’s a choice of style.
Some of the retailers we link to are partners who may pay us when you buy through them. This doesn’t change which bottles we recommend. How this works.
Roku Gin vs Sipsmith: Comparison at a Glance
| Roku Gin | Sipsmith London Dry Gin | |
|---|---|---|
| Made by | Suntory Spirits, at its Liquor Atelier in Osaka, Japan | Sipsmith, in Chiswick, London |
| Owner | Suntory | Beam Suntory since 2016 |
| Style | Japanese craft gin | London Dry Gin |
| Botanicals | 14: six Japanese plus eight traditional | 10, on an English wheat spirit base |
| How the botanicals are distilled | Separately, in four types of pot still, then blended | In copper pot stills, the first of which is named Prudence |
| ABV | 43% | 41.6% |
| The Whisky Exchange (UK), 70cl | £29.95 (about £4.28 per 10cl) | £26.25 (about £3.75 per 10cl) |
| Flavor | Floral and citrusy, with green tea and a peppery finish | Dry juniper first, then lemon and orange marmalade |
| Best in | G&T with ginger, highballs | Martini, negroni, classic G&T |
Prices, strength, and stock checked at The Whisky Exchange on October 1, 2026. Both were in stock. The Whisky Exchange is a UK retailer, so check that it ships to your country before ordering.
Both Bottles Come From Suntory
Roku is Suntory’s own gin, made in Osaka. Sipsmith started in 2009 as an independent London distillery. According to Sipsmith’s own history, its founders petitioned to change an 1823 law that blocked stills under 1,800 litres, which reopened small-batch gin distilling in London. In December 2016, Beam Suntory, Suntory’s spirits arm, bought the company. Trade press reported the price at about £50 million, and the founders stayed on to run the distillery.
That matters if you were picking Sipsmith as the “independent craft” option. Both bottles now answer to the same parent company. The real differences are the recipe, the style, and what you plan to mix.
The Real Difference: Japanese Botanicals vs London Dry
Sipsmith makes a London Dry Gin, the classic style built around juniper. The Whisky Exchange’s listing describes it as distilled from English wheat spirit with ten botanicals, and Sipsmith’s own tasting notes say “dry juniper leads,” followed by lemon tart and orange marmalade. It’s the kind of gin that most classic cocktail recipes are written for.
Roku starts from a different idea. Suntory’s description lists six Japanese botanicals: sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, sencha tea, gyokuro tea, and sansho pepper. These sit alongside eight traditional gin botanicals, including juniper. Suntory distills the botanicals separately, by type, in four different kinds of pot still, then blends the results. The name comes from the Japanese word for six, roku, after the six Japanese botanicals.
Roku Gin
Suntory’s tasting notes open with cherry blossom and green tea on the nose, yuzu as the top note on the palate, and sansho pepper bringing “a little spiciness” to the finish. Juniper is there, but it isn’t the lead. Suntory’s own recommended serve is a gin and tonic with sticks of fresh ginger, which pushes the spicy side of the gin.
Pros:
- A flavor you won’t get from a European gin: sakura, green tea, yuzu, and sansho
- Slightly stronger at 43%, so it holds up well in a tall G&T or highball
- Easy to find and reasonably priced for a Japanese gin
Cons:
- Costs a little more per 10cl than Sipsmith
- Less juniper, so it can taste soft in a martini or a negroni
Bottom line: the pick if you want your G&T to taste of Japan, not of London.
Check Roku Gin at The Whisky Exchange →
Sipsmith London Dry Gin
Sipsmith’s notes describe a floral, meadow-like nose with rounded juniper and citrus, then dry juniper on the palate before lemon tart and orange marmalade come through, and a dry, spicy juniper finish. Sipsmith calls it “smooth enough for a Martini, yet rich and balanced, perfect for a G&T,” and its suggested serves include the martini, the negroni, and a bramble.
Pros:
- A textbook London Dry that works in almost any classic gin cocktail
- The cheaper of the two per 10cl
- Clear, dry juniper backbone for a martini
Cons:
- Less distinctive than Roku if you want something new
- Slightly lower strength at 41.6%
Bottom line: the pick if you mostly make classic cocktails and want juniper up front.
Check Sipsmith London Dry Gin at The Whisky Exchange →
Which One Should You Buy?
- You mainly drink martinis or negronis: Sipsmith.
- You mainly drink gin and tonics and want something different: Roku, with a slice of fresh ginger.
- You want the lower price per bottle: Sipsmith, by about £3.70 at The Whisky Exchange.
- You’re buying for someone who likes Japanese whisky or green tea: Roku.
- You want one gin for a home bar that has to do everything: Sipsmith, because classic recipes expect a juniper-led gin.
Who should skip Roku: anyone who wants a big, piney juniper hit. Roku’s Japanese botanicals take the lead, and juniper sits behind them. If you like floral, cucumber-style modern gins instead, our Roku vs Hendrick’s comparison covers that choice. If you want a more complex Japanese gin and don’t mind paying more, see our Roku vs Ki No Bi comparison.
FAQ
Is Sipsmith owned by Suntory?
Yes. Beam Suntory took full control of Sipsmith in a deal announced in December 2016. The founders stayed on to run the London distillery, and Roku is made by Suntory itself in Osaka.
What botanicals are in Roku Gin?
Six Japanese botanicals (sakura flower, sakura leaf, yuzu peel, sencha tea, gyokuro tea, and sansho pepper) plus eight traditional gin botanicals, including juniper. That’s 14 in total, not six.
Is Roku a London Dry Gin?
No. Roku is a Japanese gin made in Osaka, and Suntory distills its botanicals separately and then blends them. Sipsmith is the London Dry of these two.
Which is better for a martini?
Sipsmith. Its dry, juniper-led profile is what a classic martini is built around, and Sipsmith markets it for exactly that. Roku makes a softer, more floral martini, which some people like, but it isn’t the classic version.
What’s the best way to drink Roku Gin?
Suntory’s own serve is a gin and tonic garnished with sticks of fresh ginger. The ginger brings out the sansho pepper in the finish.
Final Thoughts
Roku and Sipsmith share an owner and a price range but not a style. Sipsmith is a classic London Dry, and it’s the better all-round bottle for cocktails. Roku is the one to buy for a gin and tonic that tastes of sakura, green tea, and yuzu. If your home bar only has room for one gin, choose Sipsmith. If you already have a London Dry, Roku is the more interesting second bottle.