Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition 2020 – RESULTS ANNOUNCED

The Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition, operated by the TWSC Executive Committee now in its 2^nd year had taken the decision to reinvent themselves.

This year due to coronavirus threating cancelling the event, so all judges received individual samples and got on with the work remotely.

The (lucky) judges had the hard task to sample all drinks blindly whereas in previous years it was all done in group, resulting in 12 Superior Gold winners, 79 Gold winners, 154 Silver winners, and 83 Bronze winners, and probably more than one hangover from the judges.

Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition 2020 edition had anticipated the TWSC comitte decided to introduce the category “Japan-made Whisky” for those particular whiskies involving during the blending process imports of World whiskies.

A Shochu category was also announced to have its own category, however results of this have not been announced yet.

Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition Results – JAPANESE DRINKS

WHISKY

SUPERIOR GOLD
Suntory The Essence of Suntory Whisky Yamazaki Distillery Refill Sherry Cask
Hombo Shuzo Komagatake 1991 28 Years Old Single Cask No.160

GOLD
Suntory The Essence of Suntory Whisky Yamazaki Distillery Montilla Wine Cask
Suntory The Essence of Suntory Whisky Yamazaki Distillery Spanish Oak
Suntory Hakushu 18 Years Old
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu On The Way 2019
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt Chuchibu 2012 7 Years Old for Whisky Talk Fukuoka 2019
Suntory Komagatake 2013 6 Years Old Single Cask No.1689
Hombo Shuzo Komagatake Tsunuki Aging 2019
Hombo Shuzo: Mars Shinshu 2013 5 Years Old for Whisky Talk Fukuoka 2019
Suntory Yamazaki 12 Years Old
Suntory Yamazaki 18 Years Old
Suntory Hibiki 21 Years Old
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Japanese Blended Limited Edition 2020

SILVER
Suntory The Hakushu
Hombo Shuzo Komagatake Limited Edition 2019
Hombo Shuzo: Mars Malt Le Papillon Yakushima-Ruri-Shijimi
Eigashima Shuzo Single Malt Eigashima Sherry Cask
Suntory The Yamazaki
Suntory The Chita
Suntory Hibiki Blender’s Choice
Suntory Hibiki Japanese Harmony
Komasa Jyozo Kanosuke New Born Limited Bottle by Kanosuke Distillery #2 Wine Cask Finish
Wakatsuru Shuzo Saburomaru New Born 2018 7 Months Toyama Mizunara Head
Wakatsuru Shuzo Saburomaru New Born 2019 5 Months New American White Oak Cask
Wakatsuru Shuzo Saburomaru New Pot 2019
Chugoku Jozo Sakurao Distillery Single Cask No.5080
Sasanokawa Shuzo Yamazakura Asaka Distillery New Born Single Cask No.17189

BRONZE
Sasanokawa Shuzo Asaka The First
Miyashita Sake Brewery Okayama Triple Cask
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries
Komasa Shuzo Kanosuke New Born 2019 Matured 16 Months Bourbon Casks
Komasa Shuzo: Kanosuke New Born Limited Bottle By Kanosuke Distillery
Nagahama Roman Beer Nagahama New Make 59° Heavily Peated
Nagahama Roman Beer Amahagan Edition No.2 Red Wine Wood Finish (world whisky)
Nagahama Roman Beer Amahagan Edition No.3 Mizunara Wood Finish (world whisky)
Eigashima Shuzo Blended Eigashima Sherry Cask Finish (world whisky)
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt Mizunara Wood Reserve (world whisky)
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt Wine Wood Reserve (world whisky)
Chichibu Distillery Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Limited Edition (world whisky)
Sasanokawa Shuzo Pure Malt Yamazakura Rum Cask Finish (world whisky)

GIN

GOLD
Sata Shoten Akayane Craft Gin Bifu
Kyoya Shuzo Hinata
Takata Shuzojo Jin Jin Gin
Chugoku Jozo Sakurao Gin Hamagou
Chugoku Jozo Sakurao Gin Original
Kyoya Shuzo Yuzugin

SILVER
Ishikawa Shuzojo 2019 Navy Strength Craft Gin
Benizakura Distillery 9148 #0210
Benizakura Distillery 9148 #1922
Sata Shoten Akayane Gin Heart Haru
Ishikawa Shuzojo Ginger Craft Gin
Chiyomusubi Shuzo Impact
Umegae Shuzo Japanese Premium Craft Gin Yokitsuki
Jinhichi Shoten Jin7 Series 00
Koganei Shuzo The Japanese Craft Gin Koganei
Takata Shuzojo Kumamoto Jin Jin Gin
HUGE Number Eight Gin
Tamura Shoten Perfume Gin Chirankoucha Bartender’s Edition
Suntory Roku Gin
Chugoku Jozo Sakurao Gin Barrel Aged
Chugoku Jozo Sakurao Gin Limited
Hombo Shuzo Wa Bi Gin
Hombo Shuzo Wa Bi Gin Cognac Cask Finish

BRONZE
Benizakura Distillery 9148 #4102
Minakuchi Shuzo Dogo Craft Gin
Yomeishu Shuzo Kanoshizuku
Nakano BC Kodachi
Tamura Shoten Perfume Gin Lemongrass Bartender’s Edition
Miyashita Shuzo Sakura Gin Syukou
Chugoku Jozo Sakurao Gin Hiroshima
Meiri Shurui Wa Gin

RUM, VODKA AND OTHER SPIRITS

GOLD
Tatsumi Distillery Alchemiae Absinthe Innaki
VINVIE Shinshu Absinthe 2018 Barrel Aged
Tatsumi Distillery Alchemiae First Essence Green Absinthe

SILVER
Helios Shuzo Teeda 21 Years Old
Satsuma Shuzo The Hinokami 30 Years Old
Sanwa Shurui Wapirits Tumugi
Sanwa Shurui Wapirits Tumugi Buntan
Sanwa Shurui Wapirits Tumugi New Oak Cask Storage

BRONZE
Tokyo Distillery Company Rum Za
Suntory Haku
Sata Shoten Akayane Craft Spirits Oriental Cardamon
Sata Shoten Akayane Craft Spirits Sansho

※**Source Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition TWSC2020 (Download full list here)

Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition 2020 FULL LIST RESULTS

※*Source Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition TWSC 2020
※**This lists are listed in category number order at the time of entry, and in the same category in alphabetical order

Mamoru Tsuchiya – Photo scotchclub.org

Mamoru Tsuchiya, Chair of the Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition (TWSC) Executive Committee,provided the below comments about trends within this year’s field of winners:

“This year’s results once again represent a strong showing from Taiwan, such as Kavalan.Though the panel of judges may have been somewhat tough on Scotch due to their extensive experience with the spirit, Taiwan has demonstrated their whisky-making prowess while simultaneously attracting international attention for their containment of the coronavirus.

Compared to blended whiskies, single malts featured prominently in the awards. In American whiskey, we see a trend towards individuality, with rye whiskies earning higher ratings than Bourbon. In Japan, where many new distilleries are emerging, this year’s new “Japanese New Make Whisky” category includes both Silver and Bronze winners with maturities under 2 years.

These results in Japanese whisky exemplify the category’s potential and gives us plenty to look forward to.” ※*Tokyo Whisky Spirits CompetitionTWSC

ALL MEDIA ©Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition Executive Committee, ウイスキー文化研究所

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