The House of Suntory’s Roku Gin today announced a new partnership with world-renowned actress Elle Fanning and filmmaker Sofia Coppola . The collaboration with two of the leading names in cinema is the centrepiece of Roku Gin’s ‘Come Alive with the Seasons’ campaign, which invites gin drinkers to experience the best of every season.

Roku Gin is an articulation of the Japanese concept of shun, the moment when nature is at its peak in vibrancy and vitality. Distilled in Japan with meticulous attention to detail, Roku is the perfect blend of fresh and floral flavours. The gin’s flavour profile is achieved by balancing six Japanese botanicals with eight traditional gin botanicals. The six Japanese botanicals in Roku include Sakura flower, Sakura leaf, Sencha tea, Gyokuro tea, Sansho pepper, and Yuzu peel – each harvested at its peak seasonality. A unique multiple-distillation process brings out the best in each.

With longtime friend Elle Fanning as her muse, Sofia Coppola uses her masterful creative direction to capture the Roku Gin story beautifully. The campaign vignette which can be viewed here, seamlessly weaves together renowned Japanese nature, influenced by Roku’s six distinct Japanese botanicals, with its deeply rooted traditions and spirits culture synonymous with The House of Suntory. The collaboration with the award-winning film-director is a continuation of a partnership which began last year to celebrate the centenary of The House of Suntory.

The campaign vignette also aims to serve a greater purpose: to encourage discerning viewers worldwide to appreciate vibrant, fleeting seasons around them in a fast-paced, digital world – the shared value in Japanese culture behind seasonal festivals such as Hanami and the creation of Roku Gin.

Fanning, best known for leading roles in The Great and Maleficent: Mistress of Evil, said, “It is amazing to be partnering with The House of Suntory’s Roku Gin. Their commitment to craftsmanship, nature, and attention to detail is why Roku Gin is inspiring. And working alongside my friend Sofia again to showcase the beautiful concept of shun through our Roku Gin ‘Come Alive with the Seasons’ campaign vignette has been particularly special to me.”

In January, The House of Suntory’s Roku Gin debuted Roku Sakura Bloom in the UK, the limited-edition release is the first edition in Roku’s Festival Collection. Available at Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s. This limited offering honours the Sakura flower, whose delicate nature and fleeting blossoms captivate Japan each spring. Crafted using freshly picked Sakura blossoms at peak freshness, the Roku Gin Sakura Bloom Edition is inspired by Hanami. During this renowned spring festival, Japanese people gather in parks to enjoy the vibrant yet brief Sakura blossom season. The use of Sakura imparts an elegant floral taste with hints of saltiness, while the limited-edition packaging design brings the spirit of the festival to life.

The House of Suntory began with the establishment of its Yamazaki Distillery in 1923 —the oldest malt whisky distillery in Japan’s history. Since its founding, The House of Suntory has been crafting world-class spirits and as well as Roku Gin, is known for Yamazaki, Hibiki, Hakushu, Chita, Kakubin, Toki, Ao World Whisky, Legent Bourbon and Haku Vodka. After a successful 100th anniversary campaign last year that included several groundbreaking limited-edition whisky releases, The House of Suntory looks forward to innovating Japanese spirits for years to come.