Bar Ignis Otaru | A Taste of Spring in Otaru: New Cocktail Featuring Homemade Butterbur Bud Gin!
Hello from UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU!
Spring has finally arrived in Otaru—our snowy streets have melted, and it’s the perfect season to step out in sneakers and enjoy the sun.
And as the days get warmer, doesn’t a cold cocktail sound even more refreshing?
In this article, we’re excited to introduce a limited-edition spring cocktail now available at our lobby bar, Bar Ignis Otaru.
Have you seen fukinoto—butterbur buds—lately?
In the past, they were easy to spot growing wild along the roads, a classic sign that spring had arrived.
But these days, it’s become a little harder to find them.
That’s because butterbur buds only grow in very specific environments.
They thrive in calm areas with lots of water—meaning they only appear in certain places.
Luckily, Hokkaido—and especially our port town of Otaru—is one of those perfect environments.
Here, it’s still common to see these little green signs of spring poking through after the snow melts.
Butterbur Bud Gin & Tonic
This special seasonal ingredient, fukinoto, is often enjoyed as tempura or in simple side dishes.
But at Bar Ignis Otaru, our bartenders took a fresh approach with the Butterbur Bud Gin & Tonic.
They went out to Mt. Asahi Observatory in Otaru to hand-pick the buds themselves.
The freshly picked buds are gently boiled and then infused in dry gin under vacuum seal for 2–3 days.
This unique process locks in their fresh, bitter aroma—and the result is a one-of-a-kind recipe exclusive to Bar Ignis Otaru.
The natural aroma and subtle bitterness of the butterbur buds pair beautifully with the flavor of gin.
It’s a fresh, spring-inspired cocktail with a complex, refreshing taste you won’t forget.
Because the ingredients are hand-picked, this cocktail is available in limited quantities and may sell out before the end of the season.
We plan to offer it until the end of June 2025.
Come visit Bar Ignis Otaru and experience the arrival of spring through a truly local cocktail.
Spring Limited-Edition Cocktail Details
- Cocktail: Butterbur Bud Gin & Tonic
- Available until: Late June 2025 (while supplies last)
- Location: Bar Ignis Otaru (1F, UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU)
- Hours: 7:30 PM – 11:30 PM (Last order: 11:00 PM)
Bar Ignis Otaru
UNWIND HOTEL & BAR OTARU
- Location: 1-8-25 Ironai, Otaru, Hokkaido
- Access: Approx. 35 minutes by JR Hakodate Line from Sapporo Station to Otaru Station, then a 10-minute walk to the hotel.