Hanyu Distillery Wins Awards for All Submitted Items in its First Entry at TWSC 2026!
Hanyu Distillery, operated by Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd. based in Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture, made its first entry into the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 (TWSC2026), one of Asia's largest spirits competitions, with results announced on May 15, 2026. In a remarkable achievement, all five submitted items won awards, with the 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated' receiving the prestigious 'Superior Gold' award in the Western Spirits category. This success highlights the high acclaim from both domestic and international judges and marks a significant accomplishment since the distillery resumed operations in 2021.
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- 📰 Published: May 28, 2026 at 10:00
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Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture; President: Yasuhisa Nakata) is pleased to announce that its 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated' from the Hanyu Distillery won the 'Superior Gold' award in the Western Spirits category at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 (TWSC2026), one of Asia's largest spirits competitions, announced on May 15, 2026.
Furthermore, the 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat' and 'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated' also received 'Gold' awards in the Western Spirits category. In its very first entry in this competition, the distillery saw all of its submitted products win 'Superior Gold,' 'Gold,' or 'Silver' awards, earning high praise for its whisky-making from judges both in Japan and abroad.
The entire team at Hanyu Distillery would like to express our deepest gratitude for this achievement, which we believe is the result of the support and encouragement from everyone who has supported us through crowdfunding since we resumed distillation in 2021, everyone who has visited our distillery tours from all over Japan and the world, the many people who have stopped by our booth at events, and all of our loyal customers.
We will continue to strive to create whisky that lives up to this recognition and attracts attention from all over Japan and the world.
What is TWSC?
The Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) is one of Asia's largest competitions, boasting a significant number of entries. It judges whiskies and spirits from around the world based on the delicate palate cultivated by Japanese culture.
About the Award-Winning Items
The five award-winning whiskies are as follows:
① Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Superior Gold'
② Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold'
③ Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold'
④ Hanyu Distillery New Pot Non-Peat - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver'
⑤ TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver'
'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Superior Gold' Award
The Superior Gold winner, 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated,' is a single cask whisky made from peated new make spirit from Hanyu Distillery, which began distillation in 2021, and aged for three years in a first-fill bourbon barrel.
The non-peated version strongly reflects the individual character of each cask, featuring sweet aromas of honey, maple, and vanilla.
ABV: 51%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'The vanilla and peatiness spread pleasantly, reminiscent of white-fleshed fruits.'
- 'Smooth and mild on the palate. Not powerful, but has a luscious impression. It feels light but has a solid body.'
- 'Intense peat with a complex flavor, but the balance of acidity and sweetness is good.'
'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold' Award
The Gold winner, 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat,' is the counterpart to the peated version. It is a single cask whisky made from the distillery's core non-peated new make spirit, aged for three years in a first-fill bourbon barrel. This whisky's craftsmanship received high praise.
ABV: 51%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'The finish is relatively long and light. A gentle sweetness of vanilla lingers, and a lime-like acidity brings everything together cleanly.'
- 'Well-balanced. The finish pleasantly rises through the nose. A refined sweetness remains.'
- 'Floral and fruity, yet crisp. Gives the impression of a gentle older sister.'
'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold' Award
The Gold winner, 'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated,' is characterized by its smooth, neutral aroma and a rich, full-bodied flavor. Many judges expressed anticipation for its future maturation.
ABV: 60%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'The peatiness skillfully enhances tropical elements. The flavor components are well-arranged, and I'm very excited to see how much complexity it will gain with aging.'
- 'Adding water improves the balance of spiciness. It also increases the soft sweetness and umami. Shows great potential for change with maturation.'
- 'An extremely high-quality cornerstone product. Particularly noteworthy is the clean yet persistent medium-long finish.'
'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Non-Peat' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver' Award
The Silver winner, 'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Non-Peat,' features strong sweetness, fruity notes of orange and grapefruit, and a long finish. Judges also expressed high hopes for its evolution with cask aging.
ABV: 60%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'A finish where the sweetness lingers firmly. A well-balanced and delightful taste.'
- 'The aroma is quite sweet. Adding water brings out a beautiful acidity.'
- 'It shows a high capacity for acquiring additional aromas in the future.'
'TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver' Award
The Silver winner, 'TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky,' is a world malt whisky created by vatting Hanyu Distillery's single malt as the key malt with carefully selected malt whiskies from Scotland. It is characterized by sweet aromas from the non-peated spirit and a smoky, complex aroma and finish from the peated spirit.
ABV: 48%
Volume: 700ml
Judges' comments included:
- 'A whisky with a strong cask influence and an overall sweet impression. Feels very well-matured.'
- 'A sweet and strong oaky aroma.'
- 'Strong on the palate but dominated by fruity aromas.'
Hanyu Distillery Second Release Single Malt Whisky 'TONE Hanyu Largamente Single Malt Double Cask Sherry & Bourbon'
Following the first release single malt whisky 'Hanyu GENESIS,' which was a blend of non-peated and peated spirits aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, the second release is 'TONE Hanyu Largamente Single Malt Double Cask Sherry & Bourbon.'
This is a double cask whisky, primarily composed of non-peated spirit aged in sherry casks, which imparts aromas of dried grapes and spices, blended with non-peated spirit aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, which offers abundant sweetness of maple and honey.
Volume: 700ml
Ingredients: Malt (domestically produced)
ABV: 51%
Suggested Retail Price: 18,000 JPY + tax
About Hanyu Distillery
Toa Shuzo's history of whisky making began with obtaining a manufacturing license in 1946. From 1980, they introduced two pot stills and conducted their own distillation for about 20 years. However, due to a downturn in the whisky market and financial difficulties, operations were regrettably halted and the distillery was closed in 2000. With the desire to 'one day make whisky again,' the company focused on its main business of sake, which has received high praise both domestically and internationally in recent years, stabilizing the business foundation. The entire team worked diligently towards reconstruction.
Finally, in 2021, the long-awaited new Hanyu Distillery came back to life.
In a Makuake project in April of the same year, 'Sake Brewery with 400 Years of History, Toa Shuzo, Revives Hanyu Distillery! Selling Commemorative Whisky New Pot!', the freshly distilled 'New Pot' was offered as a reward, recording the 'No. 1 in support funding' and 'No. 2 in number of supporters' for alcohol-related projects in 2021.
In March 2025, the first release single malt whisky 'Hanyu GENESIS' was launched worldwide with a limited edition of 2021 bottles. In May of the same year, taking advantage of its location just 90 minutes from central Tokyo, the 'Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center' was opened, offering tours that include a look at the manufacturing process and a tasting experience.
Furthermore, from August of the same year, the new brand 'TONE Hanyu' was launched, along with the release of 'TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky.'
About Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd. began brewing sake in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, in 1625 (Kan'ei 2). The company moved its headquarters to Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture, in 1941 and became part of the Hinode Holdings group in 2004.
Our whisky business started in 1946 with a manufacturing license. Initially, we blended and cask-aged imported malt whisky from the UK. In 1980, we installed pot stills and began distilling our own malt whisky. However, due to the shrinking whisky market, we ceased our own distillation in 2000, and the distillery's functions were suspended. With the hope of reviving it someday, we joined the Hinode Holdings Co., Ltd. group in 2004 and prioritized business reconstruction.
In 2016, we resumed operations by blending and cask-aging imported malt spirits, similar to when we first obtained our license. We worked to further stabilize our business foundation with the goal of restarting our own malt whisky distillation as the key to reviving our whisky business.
For the reopening of the distillery, we brought back employees who had been involved in whisky production during its previous operation, had the same manufacturing company create new pot stills based on the original blueprints, and conducted cask aging on the same premises as before.
Since May 2025, we have opened the 'Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center,' welcoming whisky fans and beginners from all over Japan and the world.
Furthermore, the 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat' and 'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated' also received 'Gold' awards in the Western Spirits category. In its very first entry in this competition, the distillery saw all of its submitted products win 'Superior Gold,' 'Gold,' or 'Silver' awards, earning high praise for its whisky-making from judges both in Japan and abroad.
The entire team at Hanyu Distillery would like to express our deepest gratitude for this achievement, which we believe is the result of the support and encouragement from everyone who has supported us through crowdfunding since we resumed distillation in 2021, everyone who has visited our distillery tours from all over Japan and the world, the many people who have stopped by our booth at events, and all of our loyal customers.
We will continue to strive to create whisky that lives up to this recognition and attracts attention from all over Japan and the world.
What is TWSC?
The Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) is one of Asia's largest competitions, boasting a significant number of entries. It judges whiskies and spirits from around the world based on the delicate palate cultivated by Japanese culture.
About the Award-Winning Items
The five award-winning whiskies are as follows:
① Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Superior Gold'
② Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold'
③ Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold'
④ Hanyu Distillery New Pot Non-Peat - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver'
⑤ TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver'
'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Superior Gold' Award
The Superior Gold winner, 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Peated,' is a single cask whisky made from peated new make spirit from Hanyu Distillery, which began distillation in 2021, and aged for three years in a first-fill bourbon barrel.
The non-peated version strongly reflects the individual character of each cask, featuring sweet aromas of honey, maple, and vanilla.
ABV: 51%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'The vanilla and peatiness spread pleasantly, reminiscent of white-fleshed fruits.'
- 'Smooth and mild on the palate. Not powerful, but has a luscious impression. It feels light but has a solid body.'
- 'Intense peat with a complex flavor, but the balance of acidity and sweetness is good.'
'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold' Award
The Gold winner, 'Hanyu Distillery Single Cask 3YO Non-Peat,' is the counterpart to the peated version. It is a single cask whisky made from the distillery's core non-peated new make spirit, aged for three years in a first-fill bourbon barrel. This whisky's craftsmanship received high praise.
ABV: 51%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'The finish is relatively long and light. A gentle sweetness of vanilla lingers, and a lime-like acidity brings everything together cleanly.'
- 'Well-balanced. The finish pleasantly rises through the nose. A refined sweetness remains.'
- 'Floral and fruity, yet crisp. Gives the impression of a gentle older sister.'
'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Gold' Award
The Gold winner, 'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Peated,' is characterized by its smooth, neutral aroma and a rich, full-bodied flavor. Many judges expressed anticipation for its future maturation.
ABV: 60%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'The peatiness skillfully enhances tropical elements. The flavor components are well-arranged, and I'm very excited to see how much complexity it will gain with aging.'
- 'Adding water improves the balance of spiciness. It also increases the soft sweetness and umami. Shows great potential for change with maturation.'
- 'An extremely high-quality cornerstone product. Particularly noteworthy is the clean yet persistent medium-long finish.'
'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Non-Peat' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver' Award
The Silver winner, 'Hanyu Distillery New Pot Non-Peat,' features strong sweetness, fruity notes of orange and grapefruit, and a long finish. Judges also expressed high hopes for its evolution with cask aging.
ABV: 60%
Volume: 200ml
*This is a limited edition product available only at the Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center shop.
Judges' comments included:
- 'A finish where the sweetness lingers firmly. A well-balanced and delightful taste.'
- 'The aroma is quite sweet. Adding water brings out a beautiful acidity.'
- 'It shows a high capacity for acquiring additional aromas in the future.'
'TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky' - TWSC2026 Western Spirits 'Silver' Award
The Silver winner, 'TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky,' is a world malt whisky created by vatting Hanyu Distillery's single malt as the key malt with carefully selected malt whiskies from Scotland. It is characterized by sweet aromas from the non-peated spirit and a smoky, complex aroma and finish from the peated spirit.
ABV: 48%
Volume: 700ml
Judges' comments included:
- 'A whisky with a strong cask influence and an overall sweet impression. Feels very well-matured.'
- 'A sweet and strong oaky aroma.'
- 'Strong on the palate but dominated by fruity aromas.'
Hanyu Distillery Second Release Single Malt Whisky 'TONE Hanyu Largamente Single Malt Double Cask Sherry & Bourbon'
Following the first release single malt whisky 'Hanyu GENESIS,' which was a blend of non-peated and peated spirits aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, the second release is 'TONE Hanyu Largamente Single Malt Double Cask Sherry & Bourbon.'
This is a double cask whisky, primarily composed of non-peated spirit aged in sherry casks, which imparts aromas of dried grapes and spices, blended with non-peated spirit aged in first-fill bourbon barrels, which offers abundant sweetness of maple and honey.
Volume: 700ml
Ingredients: Malt (domestically produced)
ABV: 51%
Suggested Retail Price: 18,000 JPY + tax
About Hanyu Distillery
Toa Shuzo's history of whisky making began with obtaining a manufacturing license in 1946. From 1980, they introduced two pot stills and conducted their own distillation for about 20 years. However, due to a downturn in the whisky market and financial difficulties, operations were regrettably halted and the distillery was closed in 2000. With the desire to 'one day make whisky again,' the company focused on its main business of sake, which has received high praise both domestically and internationally in recent years, stabilizing the business foundation. The entire team worked diligently towards reconstruction.
Finally, in 2021, the long-awaited new Hanyu Distillery came back to life.
In a Makuake project in April of the same year, 'Sake Brewery with 400 Years of History, Toa Shuzo, Revives Hanyu Distillery! Selling Commemorative Whisky New Pot!', the freshly distilled 'New Pot' was offered as a reward, recording the 'No. 1 in support funding' and 'No. 2 in number of supporters' for alcohol-related projects in 2021.
In March 2025, the first release single malt whisky 'Hanyu GENESIS' was launched worldwide with a limited edition of 2021 bottles. In May of the same year, taking advantage of its location just 90 minutes from central Tokyo, the 'Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center' was opened, offering tours that include a look at the manufacturing process and a tasting experience.
Furthermore, from August of the same year, the new brand 'TONE Hanyu' was launched, along with the release of 'TONE Hanyu World Malt Whisky.'
About Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Toa Shuzo Co., Ltd. began brewing sake in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, in 1625 (Kan'ei 2). The company moved its headquarters to Hanyu City, Saitama Prefecture, in 1941 and became part of the Hinode Holdings group in 2004.
Our whisky business started in 1946 with a manufacturing license. Initially, we blended and cask-aged imported malt whisky from the UK. In 1980, we installed pot stills and began distilling our own malt whisky. However, due to the shrinking whisky market, we ceased our own distillation in 2000, and the distillery's functions were suspended. With the hope of reviving it someday, we joined the Hinode Holdings Co., Ltd. group in 2004 and prioritized business reconstruction.
In 2016, we resumed operations by blending and cask-aging imported malt spirits, similar to when we first obtained our license. We worked to further stabilize our business foundation with the goal of restarting our own malt whisky distillation as the key to reviving our whisky business.
For the reopening of the distillery, we brought back employees who had been involved in whisky production during its previous operation, had the same manufacturing company create new pot stills based on the original blueprints, and conducted cask aging on the same premises as before.
Since May 2025, we have opened the 'Hanyu Distillery Visitor Center,' welcoming whisky fans and beginners from all over Japan and the world.
FAQ
Can I buy Hanyu Whisky in Taiwan?
Currently, many of the award-winning limited editions are sold at the distillery's visitor center in Japan. For information on official distributors in Taiwan, please check the latest updates on Toa Shuzo's official website.
What is the most distinctive feature of Hanyu Whisky?
Its unique story of being a once-closed distillery revived in 2021, blending traditional methods with new passion. The recent awards are a testament to its high quality.
What is Hanyu's position as a Japanese craft whisky?
Hanyu Distillery is a unique entity that has been revived while carrying on its former history. With its remarkable achievement at TWSC, it is expected to gain increasing attention as a leading example of high-quality Japanese craft whisky.