TWSC 2026 Results Announced: Seven Bottles Named BEST OF THE BEST Among 783 Entries

The Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026, Japan’s only and one of Asia’s largest spirits competitions, has announced the results of its eighth edition. A total of 783 items were submitted: 594 in the Western spirits division and 189 in the shochu and awamori division. Seven items received the top BEST OF THE BEST honor, with three from the Western spirits division and four from the shochu and awamori division. The highest gold award rate was the top 11% in Western spirits and the top 12% in shochu and awamori. TWSC also presents special awards including the Japan Grand Prix, Best Category Award, Best Cost Performance Award, Best Design Award, Best Distillery Award, and Hall of Fame. These are scheduled to be officially announced at the end of May. BEST OF THE BEST is one of TWSC’s flagship programs. Nominees are selected from highest gold and gold award winners, then judged again through blind tasting to determine the highest-scoring item in each category. This year’s three Western spirits winners were Kavalan Solist Oloroso Sherry Cask Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky in single malt whisky, Craft Gin Setouchi Amanatsu in Japanese gin, and Broken Bones London Dry Gin in world gin. Kavalan won in the single malt whisky category for the fourth consecutive year, Miyake Honten’s popular series won its first Japanese gin award, and the Slovenian gin achieved a first-time entry and first-time win. The four BEST OF THE BEST winners in the shochu and awamori division were Kiccho Hozan by Nishi Shuzo in the sweet potato category, Kannoko Black by Satsuma Shuzo in barley, Hakkaisan Honkaku Rice Shochu Oak Barrel Storage Fubaika by Hakkaisan Brewery in rice, and Kusu Yaesen 44% by Yaesen Shuzo in awamori. Nishi Shuzo won for the second consecutive year for the first time, Satsuma Shuzo won for the second time after a three-year interval, Hakkaisan Brewery became the first winner in the newly introduced rice category, and Yaesen Shuzo won its first awamori BEST OF THE BEST title. In the Western spirits division, 65 items received the highest gold award across categories including Scotch, Irish, American, Canadian, Japanese, Taiwanese, Asian, English, European, Oceanian, and world blended whiskies, as well as new make spirits, brandy, rum, agave spirits, gin, vodka, and other spirits. In the shochu and awamori division, 23 items received the highest gold award across sweet potato, barley, rice, brown sugar, sake lees, buckwheat, and awamori categories. Judging was conducted by spirits specialists from across Japan, including bartenders, liquor retailers, importers, manufacturers, press members, and certified enthusiasts. The competition used fair blind tasting with all brand names concealed. TWSC 2026 had a record 316 judges. According to the organizer, this year’s entries were high in quality and received higher scores from judges, resulting in generally higher award rankings than last year.