JAPAN WHISKY MAKER IS WORLD’S BEST FOR 5TH CONSECUTIVE YEAR

Whiskies made by a company in the eastern Japan city of Chichibu have won their fifth-consecutive world best award at an international competition organized by a British magazine, this time in the limited production blended whiskies category, Ken Yamada reported for Mainichi Daily.

This year's World Whisky Awards attracted a record of over 1,000 entries in 16 categories, and the results were announced at an online ceremony held in the UK in March.

Venture Whisky Ltd.'s entry, Ichiro's Malt & Grain Japanese Blended Whisky Limited Edition 2021, won the World's Best Blended Limited Release category and was the only Japanese whisky to take a top prize this year. According to the company, the winning whisky is a blend of stock from three distilleries in Japan.

Two of them are malt whisky from its Chichibu distillery -- established in 2008 -- and its predecessor the former Hanyu distillery, as well as a grain whisky made from corn and other ingredients from about 40 years ago at a distillery formerly located in Kawasaki, Kanagawa Prefecture. Each has a strong individual flavor. The company also uses different types of barrels to hold the distilled whisky, including ones for bourbon and sherry.

The company continues to receive awards for using the same unblended stock, but President Ichiro Akuto says that the blend changes every year. Only 500 bottles of the award-winning whisky have been produced, and they can be enjoyed at whisky bars and elsewhere in Chichibu.

Some of the products will be shipped to domestic and overseas markets in the future. Yumi Yoshikawa, the company's brand ambassador, said, "This year's whisky is more mature and has a fruity flavor. We hope you enjoy the way the aromas change in your mouth."

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