A celebration of shun and the senses.
Roku Gin has always been about timing. The exact moment nature decides an ingredient is ready. Its botanicals are harvested only once a year, each selected at its precise shun, that fleeting point where flavour reaches its peak. It’s a discipline that sits at the core of Roku’s craft: honouring every botanical only at its seasonal peak, which gives the gin its unmistakable clarity and balance.
Crafted by The House of Suntory, Roku stands as Japan’s No.1 gin, a reflection of the country’s meticulous approach to flavour and balance. The spirit is built around six Japanese botanicals, each harvested at its shun (the height of their season) to ensure every note tastes as vivid as the season it came from. This respect for timing is what defines Roku: it isn’t rushed, it isn’t forced; it is guided entirely by nature.
“Come Alive is more than a campaign for us,” says Roger Chen, Marketing Director SEA. “It reflects how we hope the next generation will experience Roku Gin through moments of curiosity, connection and self-expression.”
In a city that moves quickly, this collaboration feels almost like permission to slow down.
Image Credit: Roku Gin X Sun & Moon
Sun & Moon: A Space That Mirrors Roku GIN
That’s why Sun & Moon makes a perfect home for this residency. Kuala Lumpur’s newest all-day dining spot sits in the heart of the city, but the moment you step inside, everything settles. Bright and open by day, energising and electric by night — two very different feelings under one roof. It’s a place to take a break, or to reconnect with friends.
In that calm, Roku’s idea of shun becomes something you can taste and feel. The experience moves naturally from discovery to expression to reflection, much like the way a day shifts from sun to moon.
Image Credit: Roku Gin X Sun & Moon
THE HEART OF THE MENU
This collaboration also marks the introduction of Darwin Ng as Suntory Global Spirits’ Brand Ambassador for Malaysia — a role that brings his creativity and deep appreciation for Japanese spirits to the forefront. Known for his thoughtful approach to flavour and storytelling, Darwin anchors the experience with a perspective shaped by years behind the bar and a desire to help people see gin differently. His presence adds a layer of intention to the menu, shaping serves that feel expressive, balanced, and grounded in the quiet precision that defines Roku.
At the centre of the experience is Roku’s signature Gin & Tonic, carefully reimagined with crystallised ginger. “Ginger is a strong, dominant ingredient and not easy to balance,” says Zax Lee, Head of Bar at Sun & Moon. Lee explained that they chose Bentong ginger specifically for its clean, aromatic heat and slightly softer profile. “It gives you the warmth and spice you want without overpowering the gin.”
The choice is especially thoughtful alongside Roku Gin, which carries a subtle pepperiness from Sanshō pepper. “It’s a gentle push and pull. Strong enough to notice, but balanced,” Lee adds.
Lee’s approach, influenced by his background in fashion, brings structure and thoughtfulness to how each cocktail is built. “Fashion taught me to play with structure and flow. Those instincts now guide how I build flavour and experience. Working with Roku and Darwin felt natural, like creating something expressive, characterful, and new.”
The result is a Gin & Tonic that is layered, where each note from Bentong ginger to Sanshō pepper plays a role without dominating. While the Gin & Tonic was a benchmark, the greater creative challenge and what truly shaped the menu was moving beyond the classic serve. Darwin Ng, Roku Gin’s Brand Ambassador, notes that this collaboration was meant to inspire people to “See gin differently.”
“The menu we designed is a direct result of Roku’s character,” shares Lee. “Because Roku is so exceptionally balanced, it provided us with the perfect canvas to be more experimental.”
Image Credit: Roku Gin X Sun & Moon
Expanding the Experience
From the Gin & Tonic, the tasting moves into a series of thoughtful pairings highlighting Roku’s six botanicals: Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Yuzu peel, Sencha tea, Gyokuro tea, and Sanshō pepper.
This is where Sun & Moon’s mixology shines, presenting a lineup of Fizz cocktails that demonstrate Roku’s versatility:
- Green Aura Fizz: Roku Gin, matcha, tonic, acid blend
- Golden Mirage: Roku Gin, passionfruit, lemon, strawberry, black tea, soda
- Citrus Blossom Fizz: Roku Gin, yuzu, jasmine cold brew, soda
The cocktails are paired with a curated selection of Sun & Moon dishes, each designed to complement the flavours: Baby Scallop Toast, Truffle Toast, Fig and Dry Beef Toast, and Strawberry and Balsamic Toast. The flavours are subtle yet layered, intentionally balanced to highlight how the gin’s botanicals interact with each ingredient. Warm and cool, sweet and savoury, grounded yet airy. Contrasts that somehow come together effortlessly.
Image Credit: Roku Gin X Sun & Moon
The Living Bar Ritual
If the first half of the experience is about tasting, the second is about participation. At The Living Bar, herbs and fresh elements are displayed like a small, living garden. Guests are encouraged to smell, choose, and add accents as bartenders craft each Roku Gin Fizz.
It’s a personal, interactive moment that turns a drink into something expressive and uniquely yours. “As Japan’s most beloved gin, Roku expresses its botanicals with clarity,” says the team. “These touches allow guests to experience that character in a more personal way.”
For Darwin Ng, the co-creation was transformative. “I’ve seen how a single drink can shift a mood or spark a conversation. I want to inspire people to see gin differently, not just in new serves, but in unexpected moments throughout their day. I also really appreciate how Zax plays with flavours. He combines things you wouldn’t normally expect, and yet the outcome works.”
“We’ve been seeing people embrace those ‘in-between hours’,” shares Lee. “It is a place where the day flows naturally into twilight, where flavour, conversation, and curiosity unfold at their own pace. Collaborating with Roku Gin felt intuitive because we share the belief that these quiet transitional moments can spark the most connection.“
Image Credit: Roku Gin X Sun & Moon
Come Alive is ultimately about reframing how we move through a day. Roku Gin and Sun & Moon have created a space where flavour isn’t rushed, where even the smallest gestures feel intentional, and where the everyday can be experienced with the same care as a special occasion.
It brings people back to themselves, back to presence, to the senses, and to the quiet philosophy of shun. In a city that moves as quickly as Kuala Lumpur, that pause can feel like a breath you didn’t realise you were missing.
Image Credit: Roku Gin X Sun & Moon
A Season for Reconnection
At its essence, Come Alive honours the idea that the thoughtful, quieter parts of life can recharge us just as deeply as the extraordinary ones. It’s a reminder that richness, whether in flavour or in experience, comes from timing, intuition, and the slow transition between day and night.
In a world that rarely slows, Roku Gin and Sun & Moon offer a moment that does. A moment to feel, to taste, to rediscover. A moment where curiosity opens the door and everything after simply unfolds.
For those who want to experience this moment in its fullest expression, the Roku Gin x Sun & Moon collaboration runs throughout December. Reservations are now available here.
*Please enjoy Roku Gin responsibly.
Find out more about Come Alive
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WRITTEN BY NATASHA H. & YUNN N.
