Woodford Reserve Hosts Cocktail Competition "The Wonderful Race 2026" Winner Announced!
The "The Wonderful Race 2026 JAPAN FINAL" cocktail competition for young bartenders, hosted by premium bourbon Woodford Reserve, was held, and Taku Kojima from The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo The Bar was crowned the winner. Kojima is scheduled to participate in the Asia Final in China in May.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: March 31, 2026 at 20:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 1, 2026 at 13:39 (17h 39m after Published)
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 22, 2026 at 02:09 (492h 30m after Collected)
Brown-Forman Japan Co., Ltd. (headquartered in Minato-ku, Tokyo, Representative Director and President: Aaron J. Martin), the Japanese subsidiary of Brown-Forman, a leading global spirits company, held the final stage of "The Wonderful Race 2026 JAPAN FINAL" cocktail competition for young bartenders, hosted by premium bourbon "Woodford Reserve," on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the Brown-Forman Japan Co., Ltd. head office.
Five finalists, selected from bartenders nationwide through preliminary screening, participated in "The Wonderful Race 2026 JAPAN FINAL." They performed original cocktails using Woodford Reserve under the theme of "Old Fashioned Cocktails to Enjoy the Four Seasons," and were comprehensively judged and evaluated based on taste, design, concept, and presentation.
The winner of this competition was Taku Kojima from The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo The Bar (Tokyo). His cocktail "Transition Fassinoned," which fully brought out the complex and rich flavor of Woodford Reserve and expressed the melancholy of the changing seasons from summer to autumn felt in his childhood, received high praise from the judges as a drink that opened up new possibilities for Woodford Reserve while remaining faithful to the "enjoying the four seasons" concept.
Furthermore, the winner, Taku Kojima, is scheduled to participate in the Asia Final to be held in China in May.
**"The Wonderful Race 2026 JAPAN FINAL" Award Winners Introduction**
**1st Place: Taku Kojima / The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo The Bar (Tokyo)**
**[Award Comment]**
Thank you very much for providing such an opportunity. My honest feeling is that I am filled with surprise, "I can't believe it." I truly felt glad to have continued being a bartender until today. I will use this award as confidence and do my best with gratitude. Thank you very much for today.
**[Award Cocktail]**
Transition Fassinoned
Five finalists, selected from bartenders nationwide through preliminary screening, participated in "The Wonderful Race 2026 JAPAN FINAL." They performed original cocktails using Woodford Reserve under the theme of "Old Fashioned Cocktails to Enjoy the Four Seasons," and were comprehensively judged and evaluated based on taste, design, concept, and presentation.
The winner of this competition was Taku Kojima from The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo The Bar (Tokyo). His cocktail "Transition Fassinoned," which fully brought out the complex and rich flavor of Woodford Reserve and expressed the melancholy of the changing seasons from summer to autumn felt in his childhood, received high praise from the judges as a drink that opened up new possibilities for Woodford Reserve while remaining faithful to the "enjoying the four seasons" concept.
Furthermore, the winner, Taku Kojima, is scheduled to participate in the Asia Final to be held in China in May.
**"The Wonderful Race 2026 JAPAN FINAL" Award Winners Introduction**
**1st Place: Taku Kojima / The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo The Bar (Tokyo)**
**[Award Comment]**
Thank you very much for providing such an opportunity. My honest feeling is that I am filled with surprise, "I can't believe it." I truly felt glad to have continued being a bartender until today. I will use this award as confidence and do my best with gratitude. Thank you very much for today.
**[Award Cocktail]**
Transition Fassinoned