Japanese whisky picked up several major wins at the London Spirits Competition 2026, but this year’s standout bottles are not the names most drinkers would expect. The winners include a tropical Okinawan blend, an unaged whisky from one of Japan’s northernmost distilleries, and a little-known release called Shihou that currently has almost no public information behind it.
Some of these whiskies are extremely new, difficult to find outside Japan, and still developing their identities. Together, though, they show how broad Japanese whisky has become in 2026, with climate, experimentation, and regional character all playing a bigger role in the category.
So, what exactly do we know about this year’s Japanese whisky winners? Let’s take a look.
Chura Whisky
Score: 95
Medal: Gold
Special Awards: Spirit Of The Year Japan, Blended Whiskey of the Year
Tasting Notes: “Rich and complex, this spirit offers aromas of dried fruits, mint, tobacco, cocoa, and leather, with a smooth, warm palate of raisin, nutmeg, toasted nuts, and stone fruit jam, finishing long, spicy, and elegant.” – LSC Judges
Chura Whisky may be the most mysterious winner from this year’s competition. Publicly, very little technical information has been released about the whisky so far. Mash bill, age statement, cask composition, and bottling strength have not yet been disclosed.
Looking at the London Spirits Competition website, the specific winning expression seems to be Chura Whisky The Okinawa Blend. In PR materials sent to us, the brand describes the whisky as “the liquid embodiment of subtropical purity, defined by the mineral-rich waters of the Kerama Islands and distilled to a state of absolute clarity.”
Unlike many Japanese whiskies, produced in the cool and misty mountains of Japan, Chura is distilled in Okinawa, which has a subtropical climate. The company says the region’s heat accelerates maturation and increases interaction between the spirit and the oak. Water from the Kerama Islands also forms a central part of the brand’s identity.
Produced by Decks Japan, Chura Whisky appears to be a very recent release with limited availability outside Japan. The company’s website is currently password-protected. However, we will update you as soon as we have more information on this mythical whisky.
Kamui Genshu
Score: 93
Medal: Gold
Special Awards: Unaged Whiskey Of The Year
Tasting Notes: “An intriguing, vegetal and umami-forward spirit with earthy, soy-like, milk chocolate notes, balanced by grassy, floral hints, with a complex, textured palate and integrated alcohol.” – LSC Judges
This unaged spirit from Japan took home the title of ‘Unaged Whisky of the Year’ at the London Spirits Competition 2026.
Kamui Genshu is unaged. Produced by Kamui Whisky K.K. on Rishiri Island, the whisky is bottled at 58% ABV and reportedly made from 100% malted barley.
Kamui has been unusually open about how the whisky is produced. The distillery uses custom stills from Kentucky and local water from Rishiri Island. No cask maturation or finishing is involved, which means the whisky is intended to showcase the character of the raw spirit itself.
The distillery only began operating in 2022, making this one of the newest producers to receive major international recognition. Availability outside Japan still appears extremely limited.
Shihou
Score: 94
Medal: Gold
Special Awards: Japanese Whiskey Of The Year
Tasting Notes: “The whisky presents delicate, floral aromas with notes of plum, cherry, toffee, and vanilla, leading to a light, balanced palate with a dry, refined finish.” – LSC Judges
Shihou is currently the hardest whisky on this list to pin down. The word ‘mysterious’ doesn’t seem to cover it.
Outside of the London Spirits Competition 2026 results page, very little public information appears to exist about the release. The whisky is listed under Kochi Whisky Co. Ltd., while the producer is named as “Nara Distillery Japan.”
No mash bill, cask information, age statement, or production details have been publicly disclosed at the time of writing. However, the only image I can find of the whisky seems to display the text ‘Mizunara Cask Finish’ on the label. It also says that it is a blended whisky. Bottling strength has also not been confirmed publicly. Even so, the whisky impressed judges enough to secure Japanese Whiskey (or ‘whisky’) Of The Year with a score of 94 points.
At the moment, Shihou feels less like an established global release and more like a whisky that is only just beginning to emerge onto the international stage. Watch this space for updates.
A Different Side Of Japanese Whisky Is Starting To Emerge
None of these whiskies arrived at the London Spirits Competition 2026 with the kind of reputation or global visibility usually associated with major Japanese whisky awards. In some cases, there is still very little public information available about how the whiskies are made or how widely they are distributed. Normally, that level of mystery would make it difficult to take a bottle seriously. Here, though, the liquid still impressed enough to stand out in a major international competition.
That is partly why these whiskies feel worth talking about. Japanese whisky has spent years being defined by a handful of famous names, rising prices, and increasingly hard-to-find bottles. These winners suggest something else is happening alongside that world. New producers, unusual climates, experimental releases, and smaller regional brands are beginning to attract attention, too.
Not every important Japanese whisky release in 2026 comes with decades of history behind it. Some are only just getting started.