Kyoto Whisky Nishijin-Ori Label Sherry Cask Wins Gold at ISC 2026
A prefecture-exclusive whisky with no national or international distribution has beaten thousands of global brands at one of the world's most rigorous spirit competitions, proving that limited availability does not limit quality recognition.
Reporting from 1 sources: ASCII.jp.
Kyoto Shuzo's Kyoto Whisky Nishijin-ori Series, sold only in Kyoto Prefecture, won its first Gold and Silver medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2026. The Sherry Cask took Gold, the Mizunara Cask Silver. The awards surprised global judges given the whiskies' extreme rarity and limited distribution.
Kyoto Shuzo announced that two whiskies from its Kyoto Whisky Nishijin-ori Series, sold only within Kyoto Prefecture, have won medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2026 in the UK. The Sherry Cask received a Gold Medal and the Mizunara Cask a Silver Medal, both first-time awards for the products. The competition, run by Drinks International, draws thousands of entries from over 70 countries each year. The distillery, Kyoto Miyako Distillery, is Kyoto Prefecture's first whisky distillery, located in Kyotanba-cho. The series is named for its labels made from Nishijin-ori, a traditional Kyoto textile woven by artisans.
- Kyoto Whisky Nishijin-ori Label Sherry Cask: Gold Medal. ¥3,300 (incl. tax). 700ml, 40% ABV.
- Kyoto Whisky Nishijin-ori Label Mizunara Cask: Silver Medal. ¥3,850 (incl. tax). 700ml, 43% ABV.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.