HOLON launches pre-orders for a non-alcoholic version aimed at capturing the aroma of gin
Tokyo craft gin brand HOLON has marked its fifth anniversary by unveiling a non-alcoholic version designed to match the aroma and taste of its gin, and has also relaunched the gin itself.
A “0.00%” companion for a 35% gin
On 29 July 2026, HOLON, a craft gin brand run by SOMA Inc. of Tokyo, opened pre-orders for “HOLON GIN ORIGINAL 0.00%”, the brand’s first non-alcoholic product. At the same time, its flagship gin, “HOLON GIN ORIGINAL”, was relaunched with a new label and a partial revision of its botanicals (the plants used for flavouring). The gin is designed at 35% ABV, lower than most gins, and when mixed with soda water it makes a light drink of around 3 to 5%.
The brand’s philosophy is “Mindful-Drinking”: choosing for yourself whether to drink, and at what strength, according to your health and mood on the day. It is an idea that is spreading worldwide. The new product aims to match the taste of the gin and to dissolve the boundary between alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks. The brand also suggests mixing the gin with the non-alcoholic version to make a low-alcohol cocktail that keeps the aroma intact while lowering only the strength.
A fragrance built on rush and rugosa rose, Eastern botanicals
The backbone of HOLON’s aroma is made up of Eastern plants, centred on Japan. Igusa from Kumamoto (the rush used for the surface of Japanese tatami mats) brings a fresh, green grassiness and a faintly nostalgic sweetness, while the flowers of hamanasu from Hokkaido (the wild rose that grows along Japan’s coasts) provide a green-tinged floral note. These are combined with patchouli, pandan leaf, makhwaen (known in Japan as maaga, a Taiwanese relative of Sichuan pepper), linden, cinnamon bark and juniper berries, indispensable to any gin. According to the announcement, after the grassy and floral notes overlap, a quiet, incense-like finish of patchouli lingers. The non-alcoholic version uses the same botanical recipe and is described as having a clean, crisp mouthfeel that suits food.
Prices in Japan (including tax) for the non-alcoholic version are 4,800 yen for 500 ml and 2,500 yen for 200 ml; for the gin, 5,900 yen for 500 ml and 2,800 yen for 200 ml. They are sold through the official online store and at retailers across Japan.
How to enjoy it in Europe
The announcement says nothing about overseas sales, so anyone interested should check the official website or official Instagram account for stockist and shipping information. If you do get hold of a bottle, try pouring a small amount of the non-alcoholic version into a glass without ice, savouring the aroma of rush and rugosa rose, and then topping it up with soda water. Mixing it half and half with the gin lets you lower the strength while comparing the aromas of the two. Unlike European gins, where juniper takes the lead, an aroma built around Japanese grasses and flowers could open up the pleasure of exploring pairings with white fish, vegetable dishes and Japanese cuisine.
Sources
This article was written by The Sake Wire editorial team, summarising the public sources listed above. Images are our own.
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