Shochu from Honbo Sake Brewing Co. Wins "Double Gold Medal" and "Gold Medal" at Prestigious International Spirits Competition "San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) 2026"

Honbo Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Kagoshima City; President: Kazuto Motobo) is proud to announce that its products have received the "Double Gold Medal" and "Gold Medal" at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) 2026, one of the world's most prestigious spirits competitions held in the United States. In total, four premium honkaku shochu brands from Honbo Sake Brewing have been awarded at SFWSC 2026.

[San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) 2026 Award Results]

ARAWAZA (Arawaza) Stannum: Double Gold Medal (97 points)

Ingredients: Sweet potato, rice koji; Alcohol content: 36%

Volume/Price: 700ml / Gift box 3,300 yen (tax included)

The base spirit of honkaku shochu is created by distilling vapor in a still and cooling it through a coiled tube (worm coil) to form liquid. "ARAWAZA Stannum" is a premium sweet potato shochu base spirit distilled using a patented "Polished Distillation" technique in a small-scale still, with a traditional Satsuma "tin worm coil" used for cooling. This fusion of new craftsmanship (Arawaza) and traditional techniques results in a rich, smooth, and refined base spirit. The patented method produces a smooth and light flavor profile, while the delicate and mellow character is enhanced by the tin worm coil and small still, achieving a harmonious balance of complex aroma and soft taste.

※Stannum: Latin for "tin"

Yakushima Daishinrin Imo: Double Gold Medal (96 points)

Ingredients: Sweet potato, rice koji; Alcohol content: 25%

Volume/Price: 1,800ml / 3,726 yen, 720ml / 1,862 yen ... Available exclusively at authorized retailers

"Yakushima Daishinrin Imo" is meticulously crafted at the Yakushima Denjizo brewery using traditional methods known as "handmade crock fermentation," including koji cultivation in a koji room and moromi fermentation in crocks using age-old tools. Made with high-quality sweet potatoes and Yakushima's soft, pure water, this shochu is characterized by its rich aroma and deep, mellow flavor.

Akane Kaze (Akanekaze) 43: Gold Medal (91 points)

Ingredients: Sweet potato, rice koji; Alcohol content: 43%

Volume/Price: 700ml / Gift box 6,600 yen (tax included)

"Akane Kaze 43" is a premium sweet potato shochu that highlights the natural aroma and flavor of sweet potatoes using a proprietary method. It employs the patented "Grated Raw Sweet Potato Process," for which a patent was granted in 2017 for "a method of producing sweet potato shochu using sweet potatoes as the main ingredient," along with a unique secondary fermentation process. By primarily using the vibrant-colored sweet potato variety "Tamakane," it delivers a refreshing, aromatic profile. The taste is rich and smooth, with a long, satisfying finish.

Arawaza Sakurajima: Gold Medal (91 points)

Ingredients: Sweet potato, rice koji; Alcohol content: 25%

Volume/Price: 1,800ml / 2,296 yen, 900ml / 1,231 yen

1,800ml (pack) / 2,274 yen, 720ml / 1,375 yen, gift box 1,540 yen (all prices tax included)

"Arawaza Sakurajima" is a premium sweet potato shochu distilled using the patented "Polished Distillation" method, originally patented in 2009 as a "distilled spirit production method." Through a unique technique that creates counter-current flow in the moromi during distillation, it refines the characteristic richness, umami, and aroma of sweet potatoes into a smoother, lighter taste. This "Satsuma shochu" blends traditional Satsuma craftsmanship—such as the "Minamisatsuma Kogane Senkan" fermentation—with new techniques (Arawaza), reflecting a deep commitment to authenticity in both ingredients and production.

(All prices listed are recommended retail prices, tax included)

<About the San Francisco World Spirits Competition>

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), held annually in the United States since 2000, is the largest spirits competition in the nation. It features categories including white spirits, whiskey, brandy, liqueurs, and others, and is recognized as one of the most prestigious competitions in the global spirits industry. Entries are judged by category and awarded gold, silver, or bronze medals. Products receiving unanimous gold medal scores from all judges are honored with the "Double Gold Medal" distinction.

SFWSC Official Website:

https://thetastingalliance.com/events/san-francisco-world-spirits-competition

SFWSC 2026 Shochu Awards Press Release:

d121144-65-5bc85829dc40de5b58b3d5b5e4b884e8.pdf

[For media inquiries]

Public Relations & Legal Department, Honbo Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. 3-27 Minamisakae, Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture (891-0122)

TEL 099-822-7003, FAX 099-210-1215