On Thursday, September 25, Hombo Shuzo Co., Ltd. was awarded “Shochu Producer of the Year”—an honor given to only one company among the Shochu Category producers—at the awards ceremony for the global spirits competition “International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2025” held in London, UK. This follows our previous wins in 2022, 2023, and 2024.

In the ISC 2025 Shochu Category, Hombo Shuzo’s “Yakushima Daishizenrin Mugi” received the category’s highest honor, the “TROPHY,” and a “DOUBLE GOLD” award for the third consecutive year. Receiving the “Shochu Producer of the Year” award for the fourth consecutive year is a tremendous honor for our company, whose corporate philosophy is “Inheritance and Innovation of Regional Culture,” and we are deeply grateful. As producers of Honkaku Shochu, we will continue to be thankful for the terroir of Kagoshima, strive for continuous effort and further quality improvement, and keep challenging ourselves to create shochu with a global standard in mind.

International Spirits Challenge 2025 Shochu Category

SHOCHU PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

ISC (International Spirits Challenge)

Organized by UK-based specialized beverage publisher Drinks International, this is one of the world’s most prestigious competitions for spirits. It is divided into multiple categories such as white spirits, gin, and whisky, and judging is conducted through a blind tasting with absolute evaluation. The judges are renowned experts from around the world (for each category), and the award results attract attention from liquor industry professionals worldwide. Gold, Silver, and Bronze are selected for each category, and the highest honor, “Trophy,” is awarded from among the Gold winners.

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR

In the ISC, which targets global spirits, the manufacturer that demonstrates the best performance in each category* is recognized. *The 2025 categories are Agave Spirits, American Whiskey, Aquavit, Baijiu, Brandy/Cognac, Gin, Irish Whiskey, Japanese Whisky, Liqueurs, Pre-mixed Drinks, Rum, Scotch Whisky, Shochu, Vodka, World Whisky, and Supermarket Private Label.

ISC (International Spirits Challenge) Official Website