International Spirits Challenge 2015 : 32 medals for Japanese whisky !

Results of the International Spirits Challenge 2015 were announced a few days ago ! And Japanese whiskies were once again widely rewarded.

Created 20 years ago, the ISC is an international competition which involved a large majority of spirits producers from all around the world. For 7 consecutive days, a panel of 50 spirits industry professionals blind tasted all samples in competition to assign a score and in the end a medal.

This year Japanese whiskies represented by Suntory, Nikka and Kirin have won a total of 32 medals including 14 gold.

Suntory totals a little over half of the awards with 17 medals including 4 gold and 13 silver, but the best awarded is Nikka with 8 gold and 5 silver. Kirin with their whiskies produced in Fuji Gotemba disitillery located at the foot of the famous Mount Fuji, won 2 gold medals well deserved.

Gold medals

Nikka Whisky

• Coffey Malt
• Tsuru 17 year old
• Taketsuru 25 year old
• From The Barrel
• Coffey Grain
• Taketsuru 21 year old
• Super Nikka
• Pure Malt Red

Suntory Whisky

• Yamazaki Mizunara 2014
• Hibiki 21 year old
• Hibiki 12 year old
• Hakushu 25 year old

Kirin Whisky

• Kirin 50° Tarujyuku
• Single Grain 25 year old Small Batch

Silver medals

Suntory Whisky

• Hibiki Japanese Harmony
• Hibiki 17 year old
• Yamazaki Heavily Peated 2013
• Hibiki Mellow Harmony
• Chita Grain Whisky
• Hakushu Distiller's Reserve
• Hakushu 12 year old
• Hakushu 18 year old
• Hakushu Sherry Cask 2014
• Yamazaki Distiller's Reserve
• Yamazaki 12 year old
• Yamazaki 18 year old
• Yamazaki Limited Edition 2014

Nikka Whisky

• Taketsuru 17 year old
• Taketsuru Pure Malt
• The Nikka 12 year old
• Pure Malt Black
• Nikka Blended

The full results of the International Spirits Challenge 2015 are available on www.internationalspiritschallenge.com.