Japanese Whisky Awards 2026: Every Winner from WWA, ISC, and SFWSC

Suntory swept the major Japanese categories. Yamazaki 18 took Best Japanese Single Malt, Hibiki 30 won Best Japanese Blended, and Kakubin won Best Japanese NAS Blended at WWA 2026.
Two global wins for Japan. Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky 2026 won World’s Best Blended Limited Release, and Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda took World’s Best New Make & Young Spirit.
Craft distilleries are climbing. Yoichi 10 Year Old won Best Japanese Single Malt 12 & Under, beating Yamazaki 12 and Hakushu 12 in the category. Hinokami Newborn, Kuju, and Saburomaru all medaled.
JSLMA compliance matters. Not every award winner qualifies as Japanese whisky under JSLMA standards. We flag every winner’s status below.
ISC and SFWSC 2026 results are pending. ISC 2026 judging is scheduled but results have not been announced. Yamazaki 18 took ISC Supreme Champion Spirit in 2025.

World Whiskies Awards 2026: Japanese Winners

The World Whiskies Awards, organized by Whisky Magazine, announced their 2026 results in March. Japan’s showing was strong across multiple categories, with both established producers and emerging craft distilleries earning recognition.

Global Wins

Japan secured two overall World’s Best titles at WWA 2026.

World’s Best Blended Limited Release: Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky 2026

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain from Venture Whisky (Chichibu) took the top global prize in blended limited releases. The judges noted “Japanese oak brings out the rich apricot and mango with hint of smoke. The palate has cherry, white chocolate but with a slightly astringent aftertaste. The finish is long and superb.”

This is a world blended whisky, meaning it contains whisky from outside Japan. It is not JSLMA compliant. That said, Ichiro Akuto’s blending skill earned it the top spot against limited releases from every whisky producing country.

World’s Best New Make & Young Spirit: Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda NewPot Peated 2026 Edition

Niigata Micro Distillery won the global title for the second time (previously in 2023), cementing their reputation as one of the world’s best new make producers. The peated new pot at 60% ABV impressed judges with “a harmonious aroma with smoky notes on the nose and the palate brings a milky and full-bodied flavour.”

This tiny Niigata operation has won gold or higher at WWA every year since 2022. A distillery to watch as their first aged whisky matures. For more on Japan’s emerging craft distillery scene, see our spring 2026 new releases roundup.

Best Japanese Single Malt

Overall Winner: Yamazaki 18 (13 to 20 Years)

The judges described it as having “caramel, with a solid sense of maturation and a hint of peat on the nose. The palate opens with orange peel, vanilla and cacao. Such a great finish with autumn-coloured leaves.” Yamazaki 18 was also named a Global Finalist for World’s Best Single Malt, though Bowmore 21 Sherry Oak Cask took the overall title.

JSLMA compliant. 43% ABV. Collector tier pricing.

Suntory

Yamazaki 18 Year Old

6 retailers · 18yr JSLMA ✓$500+View details →

12 Years & Under: Yoichi 10 Year Old (Gold + Category Winner)

The return of age statement Yoichi expressions is one of the stories of 2026. Yoichi 10 won both Gold and the category over Yamazaki 12 and Hakushu 12 (both also Gold). Tasting notes from the judges: “Peat, multifaceted, evoking autumn days on the nose. Then comes the almond with the sweetness lingering on the palate. The balance with sweetness is excellent.” 45% ABV.

21 Years & Over: Yamazaki 25 (Gold + Category Winner)

Described by judges as “well-balanced, with a sense of Mizunara oak coming through on the nose. The palate has a hint of peat, apricot with cassis and carries a robust flavour right through to the finish.” 43% ABV. JSLMA compliant.

NAS: Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve (Gold + Category Winner)

The NAS expression took its category with “vanilla, caramel, dry oak, substantial barley, with a hint of fruit in the background. White peach, ginger, cloves on the palate.” 43% ABV. JSLMA compliant.

Other Notable Japanese Single Malt Results

Gold:

Yamazaki 12 (12 Years & Under)
Hakushu 12 (12 Years & Under)
Yamazaki 18 (13 to 20 Years)
Yamazaki 25 (21 Years & Over)
Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve (NAS)
Hakushu Distiller’s Reserve (NAS)

Silver:

Saburomaru V the Hierophant (12 Years & Under, from Wakatsuru Distillery)
Miyagikyo 10 Year Old (12 Years & Under)
Hakushu Peated Malt Spanish Oak 18 Year Old
Yamazaki Mizunara Oak Cask 25 Year Old
Hakushu 25
Kuju Single Malt The First (Kuju Distillery, 58% ABV)
Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Distillery II (Venture Whisky, 55.5% ABV)
Mars Single Malt Tsunuki 2025 Edition (Hombo Shuzo, 49% ABV)
Yoichi Single Malt Grande (48% ABV)

Bronze:

Hakushu 18
Hakushu Peated Malt Spanish Oak (NAS)
Yamazaki Peated Malt Spanish Oak (NAS)

Best Japanese Blended

Overall Winner: Hibiki 30 (21 Years & Over, Gold + Category Winner + Global Finalist)

Hibiki 30 was also named a Global Finalist for World’s Best Blended, with Ballantine’s 23 taking the overall title. Judges noted “a faint hint of solvent but with a distinctly Japanese oak character. Fallen leaves and a lingering intensity of flavour. A splendid whisky, perfectly matured and well balanced.” 43% ABV. JSLMA compliant.

12 Years & Under: Hinomaru Whisky Silent Cask Double Sherry Cask (Gold + Category Winner)

From Kiuchi Brewing and Distilling (the Hitachino Nest beer makers), this 48% ABV blended whisky took a gold. Judges found “roasted coffee beans, granulated sugar, apricot, raisins and sangria” on the nose. Kiuchi is a newer entrant in whisky, and this award puts them on the map. JSLMA status unverified.

NAS: Suntory Kakubin (Gold + Category Winner)

Japan’s highball staple won Best Japanese NAS Blended. At 40% ABV and entry level pricing, Kakubin is designed for mixing, and the judges recognized its quality with “caramelised, barley malt, clean sweetness, with a pleasant mouthfeel.” JSLMA compliant.

Suntory

Suntory Kakubin

2 retailers JSLMA ✓Under $50View details →

Other Japanese Blended Results

Gold:

Hibiki Japanese Harmony (NAS)

Silver:

Hibiki 21
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select (NAS)

Best Japanese New Make & Young Spirit

New Make Winner: Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda NewPot Peated 2026 Edition (Gold + Category Winner + World’s Best)

As noted above, this took the global title.

Young Spirit Winner: Hinokami Newborn #1 (Gold + Category Winner)

From Satsumashuzo in Kagoshima (a shochu producer turned whisky maker), at 50% ABV. Judges described it as “at the harbour with a sea breeze, faintly smoky. The acceleration from the initial attack through to the finish is superb with a subtle aroma of oak, spice, cream and slightly fruity.” Another strong sign for Kagoshima as a whisky region alongside Kanosuke and Mars Tsunuki.

Japanese Grain Results

The Chita Single Grain: Silver

Suntory’s grain whisky from Chita Distillery took a silver medal. 43% ABV. JSLMA compliant. The judges noted “corn, vanilla, caramel, custard cream, orange oil and apricot.”

Suntory’s 2026 Medal Count

Suntory Spirits Limited collected an extraordinary haul at WWA 2026. Their entries across all categories:

Expression	Category	Medal
Hibiki 30 Year Old	Blended 21+	Gold, Category Winner, Global Finalist
Hibiki Japanese Harmony	Blended NAS	Gold
Hibiki 21 Year Old	Blended 21+	Silver
Hibiki Harmony Master’s Select	Blended NAS	Silver
Suntory Kakubin	Blended NAS	Gold, Category Winner
Yamazaki 18 Year Old	SM 13-20	Gold, Category Winner, Best Japanese SM, Global Finalist
Yamazaki 25 Year Old	SM 21+	Gold, Category Winner
Yamazaki DR	SM NAS	Gold, Category Winner
Yamazaki 12 Year Old	SM 12 & Under	Gold
Yamazaki Mizunara Oak Cask 25	SM 21+	Silver
Yamazaki Peated Malt Spanish Oak	SM NAS	Bronze
Hakushu 12 Year Old	SM 12 & Under	Gold
Hakushu DR	SM NAS	Gold
Hakushu 25 Year Old	SM 21+	Silver
Hakushu Peated Malt Spanish Oak 18	SM 13-20	Silver
Hakushu 18 Year Old	SM 13-20	Bronze
Hakushu Peated Malt Spanish Oak	SM NAS	Bronze
The Chita	Grain NAS	Silver

That is 9 golds, 6 silvers, and 3 bronzes from a single producer, plus 5 category wins and 2 global finalist spots.

ISC 2025 Recap (Most Recent Results)

The International Spirits Challenge 2026 judging has been scheduled but results are not yet announced. The most recent ISC results are from 2025.

ISC Supreme Champion Spirit 2025: Yamazaki 18

This marks the third consecutive year a Yamazaki expression has taken the ISC’s highest honor:

2023: Yamazaki 25 Year Old
2024: Yamazaki 12
2025: Yamazaki 18 Year Old

All three are JSLMA compliant. This streak is unprecedented for any single distillery at the ISC.

SFWSC 2026 Status

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026 results have not been published at the time of writing. Previous Japanese winners include Fuji Single Grain and various Kanosuke and Tsunuki expressions. We will update this article when SFWSC results are announced.

The JSLMA Angle: Not Every Winner Is Japanese Whisky

One of the stories competition results reveal every year is the gap between “award winning whisky from Japan” and “Japanese Whisky as defined by JSLMA standards.” Here is the compliance breakdown for the major 2026 winners:

JSLMA Compliant (verified in our database):

Yamazaki 18, 12, 25, DR
Hakushu 12, DR, 18, 25
Hibiki 30, 21, Japanese Harmony
Suntory Kakubin
The Chita Single Grain
Yoichi 10 Year Old

Not JSLMA Compliant:

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky 2026 (world blend, contains non-Japanese whisky)

JSLMA Status Unverified:

Hinomaru Whisky Silent Cask Double Sherry Cask (Kiuchi)
Hinokami Newborn #1 (Satsumashuzo)
Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda NewPot (new make, pre-aging)
Saburomaru V the Hierophant
Kuju Single Malt The First
Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu Distillery II
Mars Single Malt Tsunuki 2025 Edition
Yoichi Single Malt Grande
Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select

New make and young spirit entries are pre-JSLMA by nature (they have not completed the required aging). Most of the craft distillery single malts listed as “unverified” are likely compliant based on production methods, but we have not confirmed their labeling against JSLMA standards.

For a full explainer on what JSLMA compliance means and why it matters, read our JSLMA standards guide.

What These Awards Mean for Buyers

Suntory’s pricing power just got stronger. With Yamazaki 18 and Hibiki 30 collecting top honors, expect secondary market prices for both to remain elevated. The April 2026 Suntory price increases arrive at a moment when the awards reinforce the brand’s position.

Yoichi 10 Year Old is the one to watch. The return of age statement Nikka expressions, with Yoichi 10 beating Yamazaki 12 in the 12 & Under category, signals that Nikka’s aged stock is recovering. If you see Yoichi 10 at retail, it represents one of the best value propositions in aged Japanese single malt.

Craft is no longer a curiosity. Ohtani Whisky (Niigata Kameda) winning World’s Best New Make for a second time, Hinokami Newborn from Kagoshima earning a category win, and entries from Kuju, Saburomaru, and Chichibu Daini all medaling shows that Japan’s craft wave is producing competition quality spirit.

Ichiro’s Malt & Grain winning World’s Best Blended Limited Release puts Chichibu blends on the global stage, even though this particular bottling is a world blend and not JSLMA compliant. The blending skill is what won the judges over.

FAQ

Which Japanese whisky won World’s Best at WWA 2026?

No Japanese whisky won an overall World’s Best title at WWA 2026. The top global awards went to Bowmore 21 (Best Single Malt), Ballantine’s 23 (Best Blended), and Kwun Cheung (Best Blended Malt). However, Japan took two major global wins: Ichiro’s Malt & Grain Blended Japanese Whisky 2026 won World’s Best Blended Limited Release, and Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda won World’s Best New Make & Young Spirit.

Did Yamazaki 18 win any awards in 2026?

Yamazaki 18 won Best Japanese Single Malt at WWA 2026 and was named a Global Finalist. It also won the ISC Supreme Champion Spirit in 2025, making it the third consecutive year a Yamazaki expression has taken that title (Yamazaki 25 in 2023, Yamazaki 12 in 2024, Yamazaki 18 in 2025).

What is the most awarded Japanese whisky in 2026?

Suntory dominated the 2026 awards season. Across WWA 2026 alone, Suntory collected 18 medals including 9 golds for Yamazaki 12, Yamazaki 18, Yamazaki 25, Hakushu 12, Hakushu DR, Hibiki 30, Hibiki Harmony, Kakubin, and Yamazaki DR. Yamazaki 18 was the overall Best Japanese Single Malt.

Are all Japanese whisky award winners JSLMA compliant?

No. Several winners are not JSLMA compliant. Ichiro’s Malt & Grain (World’s Best Blended Limited Release) is classified as a world blend containing non-Japanese whisky. Hinomaru Whisky Silent Cask Double Sherry Cask and Hibiki Japanese Harmony Master’s Select are unverified. Saburomaru single malts and several other craft entries have unconfirmed JSLMA status.

Which craft distilleries won at WWA 2026?

Craft distilleries had an excellent showing. Ohtani Whisky Niigata Kameda won World’s Best New Make (third year running for Japan in this category). Hinokami Newborn from Satsumashuzo won Best Japanese Young Spirit. Kuju Distillery, Saburomaru, and Chichibu (Venture Whisky) all earned silver medals in the single malt categories.