Nozawa Onsen Distillery Wins Awards for All 4 Entries at Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026

Nozawa Onsen Distillery Co., Ltd. has received awards for all four products entered into the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) 2026, one of Asia's largest spirits competitions, including a Highest Gold for 'CLASSIC DRY GIN Distiller's Cut'.

The limited series, which drew significant attention immediately upon its 2025 launch and repeatedly sold out via e-commerce and lotteries, has now established its reputation as a 'world-class spirit' following rigorous judging by industry experts. Currently, the Highest Gold-winning 'Distiller's Cut' is sold out online, and the limited stock remaining at the distillery's shop in Nozawa Onsen village is the final opportunity for general purchase.

Award Results and Stock Status In TWSC 2026, the distillery's originality and technical prowess were recognized across all categories entered.

- CLASSIC DRY GIN Distiller's Cut: Highest Gold (Sold out online / limited stock in store) - MAD SCIENTIST Absinthe 2025: Gold (Sold out) - BARREL AGED GIN SMALL BATCH RELEASE 002: Silver (Sold out) - OBUSE GIN: Silver (Core product, available)

Award-Winning Stories - Highest Gold: CLASSIC DRY GIN Distiller's Cut A limited bottle embodying the distiller's ideal. The complex layering of botanicals and explosive aromatic expansion were highly praised. Judges lauded its 'superb balance of fruitiness and herbal notes.'

- Gold: MAD SCIENTIST Absinthe 2025 Conceptualized with 'mad dedication,' it reconstructs herb extraction through a scientific lens. Judges described it as 'drinkable perfume' and noted its 'rich, herbal-medicine-like flavor.'

- Silver: BARREL AGED GIN SMALL BATCH RELEASE 002 Evaluated as a new form of spirit transcending traditional gin definitions.

- Silver: OBUSE GIN A core product utilizing chestnut husks from Obuse, Nagano Prefecture. Praised for its 'mellow drinkability.'

Comment from Distiller (Yone Daisuke) 'I am deeply grateful that the spirits we believed in creating received awards for every entry. A few bottles remain in our shop. We continue to experiment with exciting new combinations, so please look forward to what's next.'

About Nozawa Onsen Distillery Established in the heart of Nozawa Onsen village on December 15, 2022. The distillery is a renovation of a historic cannery that once supported the village's food culture, now expressing the local pristine water and rich botanicals as 'scent.'