Ontake Distillery's Single Cask Reaches the Summit: Top Score from 300 Judges! Best Category Award & Japan Grand Prix at TWSC 2026!

The 'SINGLE CASK STRENGTH JAPANESE WHISKY Ontake No.18', produced by Ontake Distillery under Nishi Shuzo Co., Ltd. (located in Hioki City, Kagoshima; Representative Director: Yoichiro Nishi), was awarded the 'Best Category Award' and the 'Japan Grand Prix' at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 (TWSC2026), announced on May 29, 2026. This achievement follows the 'Superior Gold Award' recently announced at the same competition. TWSC is Japan's only large-scale competition where world whiskies and spirits are judged by the delicate palates of Japanese experts. The competition is highly regarded for its strict blind tasting process by professionals from both Japan and abroad. The 'Best Category Award' is presented to the item that receives the highest score from approximately 300 judges across categories such as whisky, rum, and gin. The 'Japan Grand Prix' is a special award established in 2025 for Japanese craft spirits with a batch size of 2 tons of malt or less. 'Ontake No.18' is a supreme single malt born from a rare cask where the alcohol content increased during maturation, contrary to the typical 'angel's share'. It is bottled at cask strength without dilution or blending. Located at an altitude of 400 meters overlooking Kinko Bay and Mt. Ontake (Sakurajima), the distillery utilizes abundant natural soft water. Nishi Shuzo, founded in 1845, continues its tradition of brewing sake that honors the gifts of nature.