Shigeyuki Nakagaki, owner-bartender of Gifu's BAROSSA cocktailier, which held its grand opening of 'LONGGOOD' on 5 February 2023. We spoke to him about his first release, a canned 'gin and tonic', and his future initiatives.

writer：Drink Planet　撮影：Daisuke Akita

The opening photograph is a portrait of Nakagaki by the artist Oka Misato.

Reasons for gin and tonic in a can.

Shigeyuki Nakagaki, owner-bartender of Gifu's BAROSSA cocktailier, grand opened LONGGOOD on 5 February 2023 and has released three types of gin and tonic in a can.

The line-up is 'Blackletter + Bergamot', 'Kaffir Lime + Rose' and 'Green Tea + Jasmine'.

Why did they decide to commercialise gin and tonic (and in a can) first, rather than gin?

It started with customers saying they wanted to enjoy the master's cocktails at home, so we wanted to bring the 'real cocktails' made by bartenders, rather than spirits, to the home.

The decision to use cans was a result of prioritising convenience so that cocktails could be enjoyed easily at home and outdoors, but there were so many problems with the 'can-making machine' that I regretted many times wishing we had used bottled products."

'When we actually produce gin and tonic in cans, the taste during the preparation process, after transfer to tanks and after filling the cans varies greatly. For a bartender who has only served freshly made cocktails, it was a new experience for me."