Our craft gin, "OZEKI CRAFT GIN #001," received a silver medal in the spirits category at the "ISC (International Spirits Challenge) 2026" in recognition of its excellent overall balance.

This product also won a bronze medal at the "IWSC (International Wine & Spirit Competition) 2026," which was announced in June 2026. With this latest award at the ISC, it has achieved a double win in international alcoholic beverage competitions.

The fact that our product received recognition in both competitions, which have different judges and evaluation criteria, is a testament to the international recognition of its quality and unique characteristics.

○ "IWSC2026" Award Announcement Press Release: https://www.ozeki.co.jp/news/award/3976/

■ About ISC

The International Spirits Challenge (ISC) is a global spirits competition held in the UK. Since its founding in 1995, it has attracted entries from over 70 countries worldwide each year, featuring a diverse range of distilled spirits including whiskey, shochu, gin, vodka, and rum, which are evaluated through blind tastings by experts. It is widely recognized as one of the most prestigious international competitions in the spirits industry.

■ISC Judges' Evaluation Comments (Partial Excerpt)

・Juniper and spice, on the palate quite vibrant compared to the nose, nice botanical mix, finish long and a little complex. crispy.
- Aromas of juniper berries and spices. Upon tasting, the flavor unfolds more vibrantly than the aroma suggests, with a good harmony of botanicals. The finish is long, somewhat complex, and clean.

・Clear watermelon and roots, juniper and spicy botanicals on the nose/ good balanced
The fragrance has nuances reminiscent of watermelon and features of root botanicals, with hints of juniper berry and spicy botanicals. Overall, it's well-balanced.

■OZEKI CRAFT GIN #001　　

Ozeki, leveraging the fermentation, distillation, and blending techniques honed through sake brewing, focused on gin as a field where they could pursue new aroma designs that couldn't be fully expressed through sake. Gin is an alcoholic beverage that can express a wide variety of aromas through the selection and combination of botanicals, and offers a high degree of freedom in its production methods and how it is consumed. The first product developed as an example of this is "OZEKI CRAFT GIN #001".

■Product features

○ A classic craft gin that blends tradition and innovation.
This craft gin is designed with a refreshing juniper berry base, layered with the juiciness of yuzu, the sweetness of tea, and the complexity of spices for a well-balanced flavor. The dry spiciness of lemon peel and ginger adds a touch of clarity to the finish, making it most appealing when enjoyed neat.

○ A mellow and well-rounded sake quality
Through careful distillation and blending, the harshness of the alcohol is suppressed, resulting in a soft and refined mouthfeel. The original flavors of the ingredients unfold gently.

○ Accommodates a variety of drinking styles
It's perfect served straight, on the rocks, or with soda, and is also ideal as a base for gin and tonics and cocktails. It maintains its character whether served at room temperature or chilled, making it a versatile choice to enjoy before or after a meal.

Starting with this product, Ozeki will work to create a new aroma culture through gin, based on its philosophy of "Ozeki for a more enjoyable life," while also promoting the appeal of Japanese alcoholic beverages both domestically and internationally, and offering value propositions that enrich people's lives.

■ Product overview

Product name OZEKI CRAFT GIN #001

Contents/container 700ml/bottle

Rank Spirits

アルコール度数 43％

Raw materials: Domestically produced (alcohol for raw materials)

Suggested retail price: 4,500 yen (excluding tax) / 4,950 yen (including tax)

Release date: Available now

Limited quantities available in the following regions: Brand shop (Sekijuan), Ozeki official online shop.

■ About sales channels

Our official online shop: https://shop.ozeki.co.jp/i/0037033-0000-01-00

Our brand shop "Sekijuan": https://sekijuan.ozeki.co.jp/