For the second year in a row, Suntory whisky was awarded the top prize for all products entered. Kaku Bottle receives the Gold Award. Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo wins ‘Master Blender of the Year’ for the first time.
Suntory Limited’s Yamazaki 12 Year Old won the first ever Master Blender of the Year award in all categories at the 29th International Spirits Challenge (ISC: International Spirits Challenge 2024), a global liquor competition held in London, UK, on Thursday 26 September (local time). At the awards ceremony, the Supreme Champion Spirit, the highest award in all categories, was presented to the Supreme Champion Spirit.
1. What is Drinks International?
Launched in 1967, Drinks International is the only magazine dedicated to the global spirits, wine and beer markets, providing readers of international beverage buyers with news on the latest developments and trends in the global beverage industry. Each issue features interesting features, business news, market reports and news analysis, making Drinks International a must-read for international beverage buyers.
In addition to the magazine and website, Drinks International also organises a range of events.
1-1. the Drinks International Travel Retail Excellence Awards
The Drinks International Travel Retail Excellence Awards were created to recognise the importance of the drinks sector in duty-free retail. It is the only travel retail award dedicated to drinks.
There are nine categories, welcoming entries from all sectors of the drinks industry, including spirits, wine, beer, suppliers and buyers.
The awards are organised around the annual TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes and the winners are announced at the Drinks International Travel Retail Party.
1-2. International Spirits Challenge.
The International Spirits Challenge is a global blind tasting competition. A prestigious jury of renowned spirits experts conducts blind tastings of spirits brands and selects the best spirits from each category, for which medals are awarded.
The ISC is used as a means for brands to raise their profile through excellent publicity and recognition throughout the drinks industry.
(Image source: International Spirits Challenge)
2-1. selection criteria and selection process
Buyers, bar owners, writers, educators and other professionals in the global whisky industry were asked to vote for their “most respected whisky brands” in order.
In the voting, points were tallied to determine the final ranking, with 10 points awarded to the brand that won first place, 9 points for second place, 8 points for third place and so on.
| Voters. | Buyers, bar owners, writers, educators and other professionals |
| Voting period. | August – September |
| Voting criteria | – Quality and consistency of the brand’s whisky – Price-to-quality ratio of the brand portfolio as a whole – Brand and marketing strength |
| Polling points. | 1st: 10 points; 2nd: 9 points; 3rd: 8 points. |
In addition to winning the Trophy, the highest award in the Japanese Whisky category, Yamazaki 12-Year-Old also won the Supreme Champion Spirit, which is awarded to only one outstanding product among all the trophies in all categories. This was the top of all the products entered in the competition.
This is the first time that Yamazaki 12-Year-Old has won both the “Trophy” and “Supreme Champion Spirit” awards, and the second consecutive year for Suntory whisky, following last year’s “Yamazaki 25-Year-Old”.
The judges commented on the reasons for the award: “Yamazaki 12-year was unanimously selected for this award. Not only does it embody high quality in every single element, such as the taste and the gorgeous aroma, but the blending ability to combine these elements in a perfect way is fantastic. It is very rare to find a whisky that shows such commitment to craftsmanship and quality, and we are very proud to be able to award this prize.” Comments included.
Furthermore, following the full enforcement of the ‘Japanese Whisky Labelling Standard* in Whisky’ in April this year, Suntory Whisky Kakubin, Old, Special Reserve and Royal, all of which are Japanese whiskies, were exhibited for the first time and awarded the Gold Prize.
It is a great achievement for us to receive Gold Awards for our premium whiskies as well as for our everyday brands, which are widely enjoyed, and it is significant that our efforts to improve the quality of our whiskies and our blending technology have been recognised, which in turn has strengthened the reputation of Japanese whisky. We take it very seriously.
*Voluntary standards of the Japan Western Whisky Brewers Association
Image credit: PR TIMES
Image credit: PR TIMES
Mr Shinji Fukuyo (centre).
Suntory Ltd’s chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo, was also awarded the Master Blender Of The Year award.
Commenting on the award, the judges said: “The skillful and subtle Suntory craftsmanship expressed by Mr Fukuyo is not only based on his experience, but also on his relentless pursuit of detail in order to deliver the highest standard of quality whisky. Every time I enjoy a whisky produced by Suntory, I can feel the spirit of thought and attention to detail that goes into the whisky. Mr Fukuyo is known worldwide as a leading figure in the whisky industry, and this award once again proves his talent and craftsmanship.” Comments included.
Fukuyo said, “The product is the reason for this award, and I happen to represent what the company and team have developed over the years. I am proud that through our products, the previous generations of blenders have been able to understand what they have been connecting with, and that we have been able to continue to produce products that are recognised around the world.” He said of his joy at receiving the award.
In addition, Suntory Ltd won the Producer of the Year award in the Japanese Whisky category for the fifth year in a row, which is given to one company in each category that has produced a variety of high-quality products.
Features of Suntory Yamazaki 12-year old single malt whisky
Yamazaki 12 Year Old is one of Japan’s leading single malt whiskies, with an elegant taste that suits the Japanese palate. It is characterised by a sweet vanilla and ripe fruit aroma derived from the white oak casks of the Yamazaki distillery, with Spanish oak and Quercus serrata casks as hidden flavours, which keep you coming back for more.
Features of Suntory Kakubin Whisky
Since its launch in 1937, this long-selling brand has been loved by many customers for its taste that suits the delicate Japanese palate and the unchanged tortoise shell design of the bottle. It is a well-balanced blend of the original spirits from the Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries, with a sweet aroma, a thick body and a dry finish.
Shinji Fukuyo Biography
Born in April 1961, Fukuyo joined Suntory Limited (currently Suntory Holdings Limited) in 1984. After working at the Hakushu distillery, the blender’s office and the company’s Scottish distillery, he was appointed chief blender in 2009, where he remains to this day.
In addition to developing various products such as Yamazaki, Hibiki and Heki Ao, he is also involved in improving the quality of the entire group as a ‘Whisky Quality Advisor’ for Suntory Global Spirits Limited.
▼ Name of competition
’29th International Spirits Challenge (ISC: International Spirits Challenge 2024)’
Outline of the Awards Ceremony
Thursday 26 September 2024 *London local time
In London, UK
▼ Name of the award and subject of the award at the ceremony
… “Supreme Champion Spirit”.
Suntory single malt whisky ‘Yamazaki 12year’.
Japanese Whisky category “Trophy”.
Suntory single malt whisky ‘Yamazaki 12year’.
Master Blender of the Year
Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender, Suntory Limited
Japanese Whisky Producer of the Year
4. Summary
Suntory, the founder of Japanese whisky, wins the Supreme Champion Spirit for the second year in a row.
Last year, the award went to “Yamazaki 25 years old”.
So far, Hibiki 21 years, Yamazaki 1984 and the Gold Medal have been awarded every year across the board,
I guess the impression is that they are so regular that they have come as far as they can go.
Suntory’s products are so well known that they no longer need to be recognised, but if this is an opportunity for people from overseas to come to Japanese liquor shops and bars to drink Yamazaki 12 years old, we Japanese would like to drink Japanese whisky with a deeper appreciation of its value.
