The House of Suntory’s Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old has been awarded a Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2026, the competition’s highest honor in the Japanese Whisky category. The accolade marks the fourth consecutive year that a Yamazaki whisky has claimed the top prize in the category.
The win follows a run of Trophies for the brand, with Yamazaki 25 Years Old awarded in 2023, Yamazaki 12 Years Old in 2024, and Yamazaki 18 Years Old in 2025.
Suntory Global Spirits said the recognition reinforces Yamazaki’s standing among the world’s premier spirits and the company’s leadership in whisky production.
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Yamazaki 25 Years Old was first launched in 1999, with the whisky evolving in 2021 to better express the brand’s craft philosophies.
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“Yamazaki 25 Years Old was first introduced in 1999, and in 2021 we evolved the whisky to more intentionally express Tsukuriwake — the diversity of our whisky-making — and Tsukurikomi — the refinement and mastery behind our craft,” said Suntory chief blender Shinji Fukuyo. “Seeing Yamazaki 25 Years Old receive this prestigious recognition today is profoundly meaningful for our entire team. It affirms the continuity of our craftsmanship across generations and our unwavering commitment to creating whiskies that honor Yamazaki’s legacy while continuing to evolve.”
The International Spirits Challenge is judged by a panel of experts who assess spirits for quality, balance, and character.
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READ THE STORYISC judges said of the win: “There’s a reason Yamazaki is so widely accepted as a global benchmark in quality whisky.”
According to the official notes from the brand, Yamazaki 25 Years Old is amber in color, with a nose of Mizunara smoky incense notes, mature kaki persimmon, and ume plum. The palate carries Mizunara sandalwood, persimmon sweetness, tart ume plum, and shoga ginger spice, leading to a long, smoky finish.
Beyond the Trophy, Hakushu 18 Years Old Peated Malt and Hakushu 25 Years Old each earned Double Gold medals.
Suntory Spirits was also named Producer of the Year in the Japanese Whisky category for the seventh consecutive year.
