News Release
- No.14459(2023/9/13)
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Yamazaki 25 Years Old Awarded “Supreme Champion Spirit”, the Top Award among All Category for the First Time at International Spirits Challenge 2023
- Awarded top of approx. 2,300 entries submitted across all categories -
- Hibiki 30 Years Old wins “Trophy”, best among the Japanese Whisky category -
Tokyo, JAPAN (September 13,2023) - Suntory Spirits Ltd. is proud to announce that its Yamazaki 25 Years Old was awarded the “Supreme Champion Spirit” at the 28th International Spirits Challenge (ISC), a worldwide spirits competition held in London, England on Tuesday, September 12th (local time).
Yamazaki 25 Years Old won the “Supreme Champion Spirit”, in addition to winning the “Trophy”, which is a top award among the Japanese Whisky category. The “Supreme Champion Spirit” award is bestowed upon the most outstanding product from among Trophy award winners across all categories, which means that Yamazaki 25 Years Old was selected as the highest scoring trophy winner out of approximately 2,300 entries which were recognized in the competition. It is the first time for Yamazaki 25 Years Old to be awarded both “Trophy” and “Supreme Champion Spirit”.
Along with Yamazaki 25 Years Old, Hibiki 30 Years Old was also awarded “Trophy”, the top award among the Japanese Whisky category. It is the fifth time for Hibiki 30 Years Old to receive this “Trophy” award.
Richard Paterson OBE, Chair Judge of the Whiskies category said “The Yamazaki 25 Years Old excels once again. There are notes of lovely cinnamon and spice as well as a luxurious sense of sun-kissed raisins. Once more, I come back to that word ‘harmony.’ That’s what makes it so special.” He also commented about Hibiki 30 Years Old saying “This is a whisky of great rarity, finesse and elegance. When you smell the Hibiki 30 Years Old, it’s all about that sense of harmony, that lusciousness, that roundness – it’s like silk.”
Suntory Spirits Ltd. is honored to be the “Producer of the Year” in the Japanese Whisky category, an award bestowed upon one company in each category for producing a wide variety of high-quality products.
We believe that these outstanding recognitions are a testament for the company’s excellent blending skills and the pursuit to perfection in quality for its whisky making, further cementing the reputation of Japanese Whisky.
●About the International Spirits Challenge
The International Spirits Challenge is a highly authoritative spirits competition held every year in the UK, with scrupulous blind assessment from experienced panel of specialist judges with exceptional sense of taste and smell. This year, a total of approximately 2,300 entries were submitted across all categories. In the Whisky division, medals were awarded based on the blind testing of over 900 whiskies from around the world by approximately 10 judges, all of whom are blenders and distiller managers from whisky distilleries worldwide.
●About Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 25 Years Old
Meticulously composed of rare malt whiskies, all aged over 25 years in casks such as Mizunara, Spanish and American Oak, this masterpiece single malt embraces a deep and complex flavor profile with a dried cherry, currant, tomato purée, balsamic, walnut on the nose. A palate of marmalade, coffee, cocoa, almond is all enveloped for a profound lingering finish with a hint of acidity.
●About Suntory Whisky Hibiki 30 Years Old
A harmonious blend of malt and grain whiskies aged over 30 years old are carefully blended to create a full orchestra of sweet and blossoming aroma, derived from the long-matured malt which reminiscent of flowers. This delicate deep amber blend has notes of leather, raisin, prune and sweet chestnut on the nose with a palate of brown sugar, dried fig, apricot jam and cedar. Its finish is extremely rich with a flavor of cinnamon and Mizunara.
▼Name of Competition
The 28th International Spirits Challenge 2023
▼Awards Received
Supreme Champion Spirit
Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 25 Years Old
Trophy, among the Japanese Whisky category
Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 25 Years Old
Suntory Whisky Hibiki 30 Years Old
Producer of the Year, among the Japanese Whisky category
Suntory Spirits Ltd.
▼Awarding Ceremony
Held on Tuesday, 12th September (local time) at London, England
▼For more information on Suntory Whisky Yamazaki
https://www.suntory.com/factory/yamazaki/
▼For more information on Suntory Whisky Hibiki
https://house.suntory.com/hibiki-whisky
About Suntory Group
As a global leader in the beverage industry, Suntory Group offers a uniquely diverse portfolio of products, from premium spirits, beer, wine, ready-to-drink alcohol beverages, to brewed teas, bottled water, still and carbonated soft drinks, ready-to-drink coffee and energy drinks, along with health and wellness products. Suntory is home to award-winning Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu, as well as iconic American spirits Jim Beam and Maker's Mark. Suntory also fascinates the taste buds with The Premium Malt's beer, and owns the exceptional Japanese wine, Tomi, and the world-famous Château Lagrange. Its brand collection includes Sauza Tequila, non-alcoholic favorites Orangina, Lucozade, Ribena, BOSS coffee, Iyemon green tea, Suntory Tennensui water, TEA+ Oolong Tea, V and BRAND’S, as well as popular health and wellness product Sesamin EX.
Founded as a family-owned business in 1899 in Osaka, Japan, Suntory Group has grown into a global company operating throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania, with an annual revenue (excluding excise taxes) of $20.2 billion in 2022. Its 40,885 employees worldwide draw upon the unique blend of Japanese artisanship and global tastes to explore new product categories and markets.
As a corporation sustained by the gifts of nature and water, Suntory Group will always protect the ecosystems that deliver water. Because its ecosystem is the wellspring, not only of its business and the rich experiences the group creates for people's lives, but also of human life itself. Suntory Group will continue to be a company where everyone is empowered with the freedom and flexibility to innovate. Through all of its corporate pursuits, Suntory seeks to inspire the brilliance of life.
Learn more about Suntory Group, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility and sustainability at www.suntory.com, on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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- Yamazaki 25 Years Old
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- Hibiki 30 Years Old
