ISC 2012 results

Gold medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2012 for Nikka Whisky's Taketsuru 21-year-old pure malt, Nikka From the Barrel, Yoichi 20-year-old, and Tsuru 17-year-old blend. Suntory also did very well with Golds for their Hakushu single malt sherry cask, Hakushu 12, Hakushu 25, Yamazaki 18 years, and the 17-year-old and 21-year old Hibiki blends.

 Interestingly both of Nikka's cheap, non-age-statement Yoichi and Miyagikyo single malts got silvers, as did the company's Black Nikka 8yo blend; the Super Nikka blend; the Taketsuru 17yo and 12yo pure malts; the Yoichi 15yo, 12yo and 10yo single malts; and the Miyagikyo 15yo, 12yo and 10yo single malts. Suntory's Yamazaki 12yo single malt and Hakushu 18yo single malt both got silver, along with the Yamazaki no-age-statement bourbon barrel, puncheon and Mizunara bottlings and the Hibiki 12yo blend. 

These awards come thick and fast but the ISC is one that the distillers themselves take seriously.