LAST Series Wins Triple Awards at World's Top 3 Gin Competitions — New Release 'LAST EN -EN-' Gains International Recognition Just 2 Months After Launch

From left: LAST EN -EN-, LAST ELYSIUM, LAST ELEGANT

Ethical Spirits Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kuramae, Taito City, Tokyo / CEO: Riki Ono / hereinafter 'Ethical Spirits') announces that its signature brand 'LAST' series has won a total of 7 awards at the three major international gin competitions held in 2026: the 'World Gin Awards (WGA)', the 'Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC)', and the 'International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)'.

A new creation born from 'connections' gains global recognition

Launched on April 7, 2026, the Tokyo Ethical Gin 'LAST EN -EN-' has had its quality recognized on the global stage just two months after release.

This product is crafted from 14 types of 'waste ingredients', including distilled spirits made from off-grade 'Dassai' sake, coffee grounds from JAL's Haneda Airport lounge, surplus yuzu, and hops from Yo-Ho Brewing. As the name 'EN (connection)' suggests, this gin, born from accumulated connections between ingredients, people, and places, has stepped onto the world stage immediately after launch.

'LAST ELYSIUM' wins 'Country Winner' (National Champion) at 'World Gin Awards 2026'

The Contemporary Gin category is one of the most fiercely contested in gin competitions, with numerous brands competing. In this highly competitive arena, 'LAST ELYSIUM' has won the 'Country Winner' (Best Japanese Contemporary) award at the 'World Gin Awards 2026', establishing itself as a representative Japanese contemporary gin.

Centered on the fruity aroma derived from sake lees from 'Amabuki Shuzo' in Saga Prefecture, with a fresh, green coolness woven by three types of citrus and ginger leaves. 'ELYSIUM' means 'paradise'—this gin, expressing a peaceful moment of rediscovering one's true self, has been recognized by international judges as a top representative of Japan.

This marks the second time the LAST brand has won the Country Winner award in the Contemporary category at WGA, following 'LAST ELEGANT' in 2021.

Consistent quality, evolving possibilities

'LAST ELEGANT' has won Gold at TWSC 2026.

Having received high acclaim at major international competitions, including the Grand Gold at 'IWSC2021', this product has once again proven its quality at Japan's most prestigious domestic competition this year.

World Gin Awards 2026

TWSC 2026

IWSC 2026

LAST EN -EN-

Bronze

Silver

Silver (91pt)

LAST ELYSIUM

Country Winner
(Best Japanese Contemporary)

Bronze

Bronze (88pt)

LAST ELEGANT

-

Gold

-

※ 'LAST ELEGANT' and 'LAST ELYSIUM' have previously won Gold or higher at major competitions. With these latest results, all three products in the current LAST series have now been awarded at international competitions.

About the competitions

About World Gin Awards (WGA)

The World Gin Awards is an international award dedicated exclusively to gin, held as part of the global beverage competition 'World Drinks Awards'.

Blind tastings are conducted rigorously by region, with awards such as 'Gold' and 'Silver' given by style. The 'Country Winner' is selected as the highest honor per country. An additional round selects the world's best from these winners, making it one of the most prestigious competitions where distilleries worldwide compete on quality and uniqueness.

About Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC)

The Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) is Japan's only spirits competition that evaluates whiskies and spirits from around the world using the refined Japanese palate. Organized by the TWSC Executive Committee chaired by whisky critic Mamoru Tsuchiya, its goals include promoting high-quality international and domestic spirits and nurturing Japanese consumers who will shape the future of spirits culture. First held in 2019, the 8th edition, TWSC2026, received 783 entries across imported spirits and shochu categories, making it one of Asia's largest competitions by entry volume.

About International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC)

Established in 1969 in London, UK, the IWSC is one of the world's most influential beverage competitions. Panels of judges from around the world conduct blind tastings to evaluate quality and taste, selecting Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners across categories such as 'Spirits'. Its results are recognized as an international benchmark and attract global attention each year.

About the Gin Brand 'LAST'

From what's 'left behind' to what 'continues'

The word 'LAST' carries two meanings: 'last' and 'continue'.

Tokyo Ethical Gin 'LAST' is Ethical Spirits' signature gin brand, born in March 2020 from the valorization of 'sake lees'—a byproduct left at the end of sake production. Through distillation, it finds new value in ingredients 'left behind' in various places and transforms them into something that 'continues'.

In January 2024, with the launch of 'LAST ELYSIUM', the brand expanded its use of 'waste ingredients' beyond sake lees to include 'ginger leaves'.

Furthermore, the newly launched 'LAST EN -EN-' in April 2026 uses a record 14 types of 'waste ingredients', the most ever for Ethical Spirits.

The attention it receives is not only for its ethical process but also for its consistently high quality in aroma and taste.

At 'IWSC2021', it won the Grand Gold, being the only Japanese entry selected among the world's top 9. At 'IWSC2024', 'LAST ELYSIUM' won Gold. At the 'World Gin Awards', the brand has won the Country Winner award in the Contemporary category twice—first with 'LAST ELEGANT' in 2021, and again in 2026—making two of the current three LAST products ('LAST ELEGANT' and 'LAST ELYSIUM') Gold or higher winners at major international competitions.

Official 'LAST' Brand Website: https://last.ethicalspirits.jp/

Ethical Spirits Co., Ltd.

Through craft gin that unlocks the value of underutilized ingredients,

From Kuramae, Tokyo