The Asian Spirits Masters 2025 results
Spirits created in Asia have gained a strong following around the world, and for good reason, as our annual blind tasting demonstrates.
When IWSR Drinks Market Analysis highlighted five key trends altering the alcohol market in 2025, emerging markets in Asia offered opportunities for growth. IWSR noted how developing alcohol markets – as opposed to mature regions – were set to be ‘major growth engines’ when it came to value growth in the next five years. India and China were two key high‐population countries cited as growth drivers, which would be followed by Vietnam and the Philippines.
“Gains from mature markets will prove more elusive – the US being a notable exception – with many seeing marginal growth or even contracting,” cautioned Emily Neill, chief operating officer, research and operations at IWSR.
The region is famed for its quality spirits – with many local products having grown in popularity in Western markets. The Asian Spirits Masters looked to assess some of the region’s offerings last month at The Londoner Hotel, in London.
Nicola Carruthers, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, chaired a group of judges: Marie Cheong Thong, WSET educator for sake, spirits and wine; Matt Chambers, co‐ founder of Whisky For Everyone; Richard Legg, owner of Distilled Knowledge; Anne Jones, business owner, and director of Limestone & Jones; Bryan Rodriguez‐Curtis, wine and spirits consultant and judge; and Ermias Ghebre Kidane, bar manager at The Aubrey at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.
Good sweetness
Straight out of the gate, a Gold winner was awarded in the opening Vodka Made in Asia flight. Ukiyo Japanese Rice Vodka secured the medal with its “soft delicate nose” and “good sweetness” on the palate.
The first Master medal of the day was found in the second flight, Gin Made in Asia. Hai Seas – Crazy Eights Barrel‐Aged Gin secured a Master medal for being “aromatic and perfumed, complex and round”. Its time spent in barrel “created some nice tannins, warmth and long finish”.
Four Gold medals were awarded to: “citrus, lemon, soft” Tanglin Singapore Gin; “yuzu, citrus, lightly floral” Ukiyo Japanese Yuzu Gin; Ukiyo Tokyo Dry Gin, which “smells like a forest, fresh and herbaceous”; and “big spicy” Malhar Spiced Indian Craft Gin. A duo of Silver medals concluded the first flight. Jones said: “There was a really broad and varied selection, very diverse. There was elegance to them all, an aromatic prettiness; an attempt to create something that’s beautiful as opposed to something punchy.”
In the Rum Made in Asia heat, a Silver medal was delivered to “extremely woody” Hai Seas – Dark Cherry Single Barrel Chinese Rum.
A flight of Soju from Korea delivered a spectrum of medals: one Master, two Golds and two Silvers. All the medallists were crafted by Hwayo Co, with the top accolade going to Hwayo 41. Rodriguez‐Curtis described the soju’s aroma as “comforting, with hints of vanilla, grain, maybe a little sorghum alongside a little Asian spice and spiced pear”. The palate was “silky smooth”, with “vegetal sweet potato, white pepper and vanilla creaminess”.
Gold‐winning Hwayo 25 was found to be “slightly herbal”, while fellow Gold medallist Hwayo 53 was “savoury, soft and fresh”. “These showed great potential for Korea,” enthused Rodriguez‐Curtis.
John Distilleries had a strong flight in the Indian Whisky heat, cleaning up with two Masters and three Gold medals. The first Master medal was given to Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Port, which proved its worth with “woody, nutty, dried spice” flavours – “very decadent”, the judges said. Stablemate and fellow Master medallist Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Madeira was found to have a “velvety rich” palate with a “tannic woody grip; crumbly brown sugar with plump sultana and dried tropical fruit”.
Pernod Ricard also collected a Gold medal in this flight for Seagram’s Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt, enjoyed for flavours of “caramel, cloves, cinnamon and mint”.
And the last of the Golds in this round went to Otherside Subcontinental Whiskey, with its fruity aroma of “mangoes and peaches” leading to “a nicely layered” taste profile with “raisins, baked apples and bitter cocoa”. Legg said: “They were so well integrated. The oak integration for that climate is really encouraging.”
A quartet of Chinese whiskies showed huge potential for the country’s distilling scene after each securing a Gold medal. Each expression was crafted by Shanghai’s Hai Seas Distillery, and the winning products were: Hai Seas – San Oaks Whiskey – Three Body Barrel Ex‐Bourbon Finish XB8 – Single Cask Chinese Whiskey; Hai Seas – San Oaks Whiskey – Jade Cask Mongolian Oak J‐1 – Single Barrel Chinese Whiskey; Hai Seas – San Oaks Whisky – Three Body Barrel #64 – Single Cask Chinese Whiskey; and Hai Seas – San Oaks Whisky – Three Body Barrel 8/8 – Single Barrel Chinese Whiskey.
The latter medal winner presented hints of “vanilla, dried fruits and gentle cereal notes”, leading to a “super‐long finish with lingering dry spice”. “Great texture, and well‐made alcohol,” said Carruthers.
Floral aromas
From there, the judges turned their attention to Other Asian Whisky – Singapore, where two Golds and one Silver medal were celebrated. All three winners belonged to Rachelle The Rabbit Distillery, with the Golds given to Hom Mali Rice Whiskey, which had a “sake/shochu‐esque nose, with koji and citric notes”, and Yomatsuri 10 Years Old Single Malt Whisky, which offered “rose and other floral aromas, with puckering citrus acidity” when sipped.
The penultimate round assessed Liqueurs Made in Asia, and found two promising Gold winners and one Silver. One of the Gold medals was handed to Hachiouji Craft Liqueur Mulberry & Hops, described as “esoteric and unusual, but pleasant” as the “hops add savoury undertones to the mulberry”. Tanglin Triple Tangerine also passed the Gold standard due to its “fantastic tangerine aroma and delicious juicy orange” flavours on the palate.
Closing the competition was a flight of Speciality Spirits Made in Asia, which delivered two Silvers and one final Gold – the latter going to Maya Pistola Agavepura Extra Añejo. “Lots of spicy oak on the nose, and some delicate agave character,” commented the judges.
With the initial tasting wrapped up, fresh pours of all the Master winners were presented to the judges for the final assessment: determining The Asian Spirits Taste Master 2025. The sojus left a lasting impression on the judges – and it was agreed that Hwayo 41 was the deserving Taste Master for 2025. It is evident Asian spirits producers are utilising both local, native flavours in their distillation alongside more widely known ingredients. And the results are paying off handsomely.
| Vodka Made in Asia | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Drinksology Kirker Greer | Ukiyo Japanese Rice Vodka | Gold |
| Gin Made In Asia | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Hai Seas Distillery | Hai Seas – Crazy Eights Barrel-Aged Gin | Master |
| Botani | Tanglin Singapore Gin | Gold |
| Drinksology Kirker Greer | Ukiyo Japanese Yuzu Gin | Gold |
| Drinksology Kirker Greer | Ukiyo Tokyo Dry Gin | Gold |
| John Distilleries | Malhar Spiced Indian Craft Gin | Gold |
| John Distilleries | Malhar Classic Indian Craft Gin | Silver |
| John Distilleries | Malhar Citrus Indian Craft Gin | Silver |
| Rum Made In Asia | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Hai Seas Distillery | Hai Seas – Dark Cherry Single Barrel Chinese Rum | Silver |
| Soju | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Hwayo Co | Hwayo 41 Master & Taste | Master |
| Hwayo Co | Hwayo 25 | Gold |
| Hwayo Co | Hwayo 53 | Gold |
| Hwayo Co | Hwayo 17 | Silver |
| Hwayo Co | Hwayo X. Premium 41 | Silver |
| Indian Whisky | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| John Distilleries | Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Port | Master |
| John Distilleries | Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Madeira | Master |
| John Distilleries | Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Bold | Gold |
| John Distilleries | Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky PX | Gold |
| John Distilleries | Paul John Indian Single Malt Whisky Oloroso | Gold |
| Pernod Ricard India | Seagram’s Longitude 77 Indian Single Malt | Gold |
| Third Eye Distillery | Otherside Subcontinental Whiskey | Gold |
| Other Asian Whisky – China | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Hai Seas Distillery | Hai Seas – San Oaks Whiskey – Three Body Barrel Ex-Bourbon Finish XB8 – Single Cask Chinese | Gold |
| Hai Seas Distillery | Hai Seas – San Oaks Whiskey – Jade Cask Mongolian Oak J-1 – Single Barrel Chinese Whiskey | Gold |
| Hai Seas Distillery | Hai Seas – San Oaks Whiskey – Three Body Barrel #64 – Single Cask Chinese Whiskey | Gold |
| Hai Seas Distillery | Hai Seas – San Oaks Whiskey – Three Body Barrel 8/8 – Single Barrel Chinese Whiskey | Gold |
| Other Asian Whisky – Singapore | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Rachelle The Rabbit Distillery | Hom Mali Rice Whiskey | Gold |
| Rachelle The Rabbit Distillery | Yomatsuri 10-Year Single Malt Whisky | Gold |
| Rachelle The Rabbit Distillery | Yomatsuri Blended Whisky | Silver |
| Liqueurs Made in Asia | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Hachiouji Craft Liqueur | Hachiouji Craft Liqueur Mulberry & Hops | Gold |
| Botani | Tanglin Triple Tangerine | Gold |
| Indospirit Beverage | Bonga Bonga – Mystery Liqueur | Silver |
| Speciality Made in Asia | ||
| Company | Product | Medal |
| Inspired Hospitality | Maya Pistola Agavepura Extra Añejo | Gold |
| Inspired Hospitality | Maya Pistola Agavepura Añejo | Silver |
| Rockland Distilleries | Ceylon Arrack | Silver |
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