First Impressions
Adnams Rising Sun Gin is arguably the most adventurous expression in the Southwold distillery's gin range. Released in 2016, it combines a locally grown rye malt base spirit — from rye grown by Jonathan Adnams at his farm in Reydon — with Japanese matcha tea and lemongrass. The result is an oriental take on the Copper House Dry Gin template, and it represents a genuine cross-cultural experiment: Suffolk agriculture meets Japanese tea ceremony, connected by the Suffolk coast that faces east towards the rising sun.
The Distillery
The Copper House Distillery in Southwold produces Rising Sun using six botanicals, with lemongrass and Japanese matcha tea as the two key distinguishing additions. The rye base spirit is significant — rye contributes a bready, spiced character that is quite different from the wheat or barley bases used in most gins. The locally sourced rye connects the gin to its Suffolk terroir in a meaningful way.
Tasting
The nose is immediately distinctive. Bran Flakes and cereal character from the rye base is front and centre — this is a gin that does not hide its grain origins. Piney juniper provides the expected gin framework, while fragrant lemongrass and matcha tea add an exotic, green dimension. It is complex yet not overwhelming — the different elements coexist rather than compete.
On the palate, the gin is extremely rich and very balanced. The bready rye spice is the foundation, and piney juniper sits alongside peppery spice and zesty citrus. The matcha tea contributes a subtle vegetal, green tea quality that is unusual and engaging. An attractive nuttiness — perhaps from the rye malt — adds depth. The interaction between the rye grain character and the Japanese botanicals creates something genuinely unique.
The finish is surprisingly long and warming, with spicy and bready notes persisting. The rye's influence is most evident here — a warmth and graininess that extends the experience beyond what the 40% ABV might suggest.
How to Drink It
The matcha and lemongrass make this an excellent partner for Fever-Tree Indian Tonic — garnish with a thin slice of fresh ginger to connect with the Asian botanical theme. In cocktails, the rye base makes it an intriguing gin for whisky-adjacent drinks — try it in a Bee's Knees where the honey draws out the rye's sweetness.
The Bottom Line
Adnams Rising Sun earns a 7.5 for taking the Cross-cultural concept from marketing slogan to genuine flavour reality. The rye base provides a character unlike any other Adnams gin, and the matcha tea and lemongrass add an oriental dimension that is tasteful rather than tokenistic. The bready, spiced foundation is genuinely distinctive, and the long, warming finish rewards slow drinking. At around £35, it represents the adventurous end of the Adnams range — and the adventure is worth taking.
