On Thursday, September 26, Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd. was awarded “Shochu Producer of the Year” at the award ceremony for the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2024 held in London, UK. This award is presented to a single manufacturer selected from the Shochu category, and we are honored to receive this title for the third consecutive year, following 2022 and 2023.

In the ISC 2024 Shochu category, Hombo Shuzo’s “Yakushima Daishizenrin Mugi” received the highest award in the category, the “Trophy,” as well as the Double Gold medal for the second consecutive year. Receiving the “Shochu Producer of the Year” award for the third consecutive year is a great honor for us, as our management philosophy is “Succession and innovation of regional culture,” and we express our deepest gratitude. As a producer of Honkaku Shochu, we will continue to be grateful for the terroir of Kagoshima, make tireless efforts to further improve quality, and continue our challenge of shochu making with global standards in mind.

International Spirits Challenge 2024 Shochu Category

SHOCHU PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

ISC (International Spirits Challenge)

Organized by the UK-based specialist publisher “Drinks International,” the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) is a premier competition dedicated to the quality and taste of spirits. Spanning diverse categories such as Shochu, Gin, Vodka, and Tequila, it is renowned as one of the world’s most authoritative competitions. Entries undergo rigorous blind tastings by prominent industry experts to determine GOLD, SILVER, and BRONZE awards. Furthermore, exceptional products among the GOLD winners are awarded DOUBLE GOLD, while the top accolade, the TROPHY, is awarded to the highest-performing product in its category, representing the ultimate honor.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

In the ISC, which covers spirits from around the world, this award honors the manufacturer that has demonstrated the best performance in each category.
Categories for 2024: Agave Spirits, Irish Whiskey, Scotch, American Whiskey, Japanese Whisky, Shochu, Aquavit, Liqueurs, Vodka, Brandy, Pre-Mixed Drinks, World Whisky, Gin, Rum, and Supermarket.

ISC (International Spirits Challenge) Official Website