Niseko Distillery’s Ohoro GIN (Standard) Takes the Top Spot: UK’s ISC Awards Crown it the Best

The craft gin “ohoro GIN (Standard)” (hereinafter referred to as “ohoro Standard”) produced by Niseko Distillery Co., Ltd. (Niseko Town, Abuta District, Hokkaido, Representative Director: Jiro Nagumo, hereinafter referred to as “our company”) will be released on the night of September 26th, UK time (Japan time). We received the highest award in the gin category, the Trophy, at the International Spirits Challenge 2024, one of the world’s three major alcoholic beverage competitions, which was held in the early morning hours of September 27th. This is the second time this year that Gin has won the top award in an international competition, following the World Gin Awards 2024 (WGA) in February.

ISC is an international distilled spirits competition held once a year by Drinks International, a British liquor information magazine, and this year marks the 29th time. It is known as one of the world’s three major alcoholic beverage competitions, along with the “International Wine & Spirits Competition” and the “San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” and is an authoritative competition whose evaluations are closely watched by alcoholic beverage professionals around the world. In the results of the judging panel announced last month, “ohoro Standard” received the highest award in the London Dry Gin category, “Double Gold.” Today, at an awards ceremony held at One Great George Street in Westminster, London, attended by related parties, the winner of the Double Gold Gin category was selected from among all eight gin categories. Selected for the highest award “Trophy”.

Our representative director, Jiro Nagumo, who attended the award ceremony on site, commented on the award, saying, “The ohoro Standard, which we started selling three years ago, is the fruit of our challenges and passion, and has been recognized around the world. We are proud of the fact that we have been able to achieve this goal, and we owe it to the support and trust of many people. We will continue to pursue quality and take on new challenges. ”, he expressed his joy and vowed to make further progress.

This is the second time this year that “ohoro Standard” has won the highest award in an international competition, following the WGA’s award for the world’s best classic gin in February. We are proud that “ohoro Standard”, which is manufactured using palm willow and Japanese peppermint cultivated within the town, takes advantage of the nature-rich characteristics of Niseko Town, Hokkaido, and has received such recognition. As our words say, our staff will continue to work hard to live up to this honor and work as one to further improve quality.

■What is the International Spirits Challenge?

This is the 29th annual international distilled spirits competition held by the British alcohol magazine Drinks International. It is known as one of the world’s three major alcoholic beverage competitions, along with the “International Wine & Spirits Competition” and the “San Francisco World Spirits Competition,” and its evaluation is closely watched by alcoholic beverage industry professionals around the world. More than 75 experts serve as judges, and the wines are judged strictly through blind tasting (tasting with the brand name hidden), and the aroma, appearance, taste, and finish are evaluated. This year, more than 2,800 bottles were submitted from over 70 countries around the world, and out of 29 categories of spirits, gin was judged in eight categories. Double Gold, Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards were selected by the judging committee, and trophies were decided from among the Double Gold in each category at the award ceremony held today.

■Niseko Distillery Co., Ltd. Representative Director Jiro Nagumo’s award-winning comment

Recently, our gin “ohoro GIN (Standard)” won a trophy at the internationally prestigious competition ISC (International Spirits Challenge), and in February of this year, we also received a trophy at the 2024 WGA (World Spirits Challenge). We also had the honor of receiving the world’s highest award at the Gin Awards.

First of all, I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all of our employees who have helped us achieve this great accomplishment, and to everyone who has supported us over the years. “ohoro”, which we started selling three years ago, is the fruit of our challenges and passion, and we are proud that it has been acclaimed all over the world. That’s all there is to it. We will continue to pursue quality and take on new challenges. We look forward to your continued patronage. Once again, I would like to express my sincere gratitude.

■Outline of award-winning products

■Niseko Distillery

Production will begin in 2021 in Niseko Town, a world-class snow resort surrounded by the Niseko Annupuri National Park and the Mt. Yotei National Park. Blessed with high-quality soft water, which is unique to an area with heavy snowfall, and taking advantage of the fact that the temperature is not too low even within Hokkaido, we produce elegant, delicate, and well-balanced whisky, as well as craft gin. The “ohoro GIN” series, which began sales in October of the same year, has three types: the award-winning standard standard, the limited edition “Japanese Mentha”, and the seasonal “Lavender”.

Niseko Distillery Co., Ltd.

478-15 Niseko, Niseko-cho, Abuta-gun, Hokkaido