Two Moons Ginger Gin Launch at Kinsman

When you think of ginger, glamour is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. More likely, it evokes memories of home-cooked meals, steaming bowls of tong sui, remedies for seasonal colds, or the familiar warmth of ginger tea shared with family. Yet for centuries, this unassuming root has quietly shaped Cantonese life, appearing in everything from culinary traditions and festive rituals to everyday expressions and folklore. It is this rich cultural tapestry that inspired Hong Kong craft distillery Two Moons to create its latest release: Ginger Gin.

Founded in 2019 by Ivan Chang and Dimple Yuen, the award-winning distillery has built a reputation for capturing Hong Kong’s cultural identity in a bottle. This latest rendition hits the shelves as a particularly special milestone: marking the brand’s first permanent addition to its gin lineup in four years.

Rather than treating ginger as a supporting ingredient, Two Moons places it firmly centre stage. Distilled using both fresh and dried yellow ginger, the spirit is layered with botanicals including wild white tea, litsea wood, sandalwood, and allspice. The result is a surprisingly nuanced profile. What started as that familiar, comforting kitchen warmth quickly gives way to elegant floral and woody layers that completely rewrite what a ginger spirit can be.

We were invited to their media launch and experienced this storytelling firsthand through a series of interactive demonstrations. From ingredient showcases to guided tastings and distillation insights, the event highlighted the careful craftsmanship behind every bottle. Visitors could explore the different forms of ginger used in the spirit, learn about the distillation process, and understand how each botanical leaves its mark on the final flavour profile.

Of course, a bottle this rooted in local heritage deserves a proper introduction. One of the afternoon’s highlights was a live cocktail demonstration by Gavin Yeung, the visionary founder of Kinsman and one of Hong Kong’s leading advocates for Chinese spirits. For Yeung, the collaboration is about much more than a new addition to the back bar — it’s a beautiful celebration of the overlooked cultural treasures hiding in plain sight on our daily menus.

“The collaboration is our way to make humble ingredients like ginger stand out,” he shared. “When I was a kid, I used to pick all the ginger out of my dishes because it felt too spicy. But as you grow older, it becomes something more beautiful. This is something the new Ginger Gin captures really well.” – Gavin Yeung

Yeung was particularly fascinated by the dual personality of the spirit. One side delivers the bold, spicy ginger that many Hong Kongers know and expect. The other reveals something entirely unexpected. “There’s a surprising elegance to it. You get these floral notes, almost like ginger flower. That really surprised me.”

His cocktail presentation explored these contrasts through a contemporary lens while incorporating traditional Cantonese spirits, a category he believes deserves far greater recognition.

“Cantonese spirits have always been in the background, just like ginger has always been in the background,” he explained. “Bringing them together feels like a beautiful way of honouring Hong Kong.”

The launch also showcased the broader ecosystem of collaborations surrounding Ginger Gin. Beginning this summer, Three Central bars — Kinsman, 25:00 (Twenty Fifth Hour) and ZZURA — will each present limited-edition cocktails inspired by ginger’s many cultural meanings, from wedding traditions to nostalgic Hong Kong desserts. Alongside the drinks programme, Two Moons has also introduced “Moon Post,” an initiative encouraging guests to exchange handwritten notes with strangers, reflecting on the role of ginger role as what the brand describes as a “silent companion” connecting people across generations and communities. For co-founder Dimple Yuen, that sense of connection sits at the heart of the project:

“At our tables, ginger has always played the role of a silent companion — quietly offering warmth and threading us together,” he said. “With Moon Post, we wanted to extend that companionship beyond the glass and create moments of human connection.” -Dimple Yuen, co-founder

The launch event also featured a tasting led by drinks writer and spirits expert Gordon Lee, who described the experience as both nostalgic and refined. “The first taste feels woody,” he told me. “Then, the ginger comes through on the finish. It reminds me of drinking ginger tea. It’s something I’d happily drink neat or with soda water.”

The magic of Ginger Gin lies in its ability to take an ordinary yet humble ingredient and use it to tell a story. Through thoughtful botanicals, collaborative menus, and hands-on experiences, Two Moons showcases the genuine passion that goes into a single pour.

In a restless city like Hong Kong, where heritage is constantly being reimagined, collaborations like this feel essential. They push us to pause and appreciate the everyday ingredients and rituals that quietly shape who we are. Two Moons has managed to flip one of the city’s most nostalgic tastes into a contemporary staple —a spirited tribute to the place we call home.