Hokkaido’s Tankyu Distillery Strikes Gold Four Times

Tankyu Distillery, the Hokkaido-based craft spirits venture founded by the visionary team behind Hong Kong’s award-winning Perfume Trees Gin (白蘭樹下), is proud to announce a milestone achievement. In its debut year of production, the distillery has secured four Gold Medals at the prestigious 2026 Global Spirits Masters, hosted by the UK’s leading industry publication, The Spirits Business.

To celebrate this international acclaim, Master Distiller David Hsieh will visit Hong Kong from 29 October to 1 November 2026. Across four curated tasting events, David will guide enthusiasts through the distillery’s award-winning new make spirits and offer an exclusive preview of their maturation progress in cask.

A Golden Debut from the Heart of Hokkaido

Tankyu Distillery’s commitment to excellence was recognized across both whisky and gin categories. The four Gold Medal winners include two New Pot entries at The World Whisky Masters 2026, alongside the Yuki no Mado (雪の窓) Dry Gin and Yuki no Mado Navy Strength Gin at The Gin Masters 2026.

The Spirit of Daisetsuzan: Purity and Innovation

Located in Higashikawa, at the foot of Hokkaido’s majestic Daisetsuzan National Park, Tankyu Distillery operates under a unique “public-built, private-operate” model in partnership with the local government.

The distillery’s signature profile is defined by the pristine underground spring water of Mount Asahidake—ranked among Japan’s “100 Best Waters.” By combining a state-of-the-art mash filter with an exceptionally long 168-hour fermentation process and Dutch iStill technology, the distillery achieves a spirit of remarkable depth. The mash filter allows for a finer malt grind to maximize flavor extraction, while the extended fermentation encourages the development of complex esters, resulting in a new make spirit characterized by rich, vibrant fruitiness. Tankyu Distillery’s inaugural Single Malt Whisky is slated for release in 2029.

Master Distiller David Hsieh: Exploring the “Hokkaido Effect”

A graduate of the renowned Brewing and Distilling Master’s program at Heriot-Watt University, David brings a wealth of experience from the traditional distilleries of Scotland.

“Higashikawa’s dramatic seasonal temperature swings create a dynamic environment for maturation,” says David Hsieh, Master Distiller. “The constant expansion and contraction of the casks facilitate a more vigorous interaction between the spirit and the oak than in more temperate regions. I am thrilled to return to Hong Kong to share how this unique ‘Hokkaido effect’ has shaped our spirit during its first year in wood.”

Master Distiller Hong Kong Tour Schedule:

Taste the Potential: Secure Your Bespoke 2027 Private Cask

During the visit, Tankyu Distillery is also opening its 2027 Private Cask programme. Guests can first taste the distillery’s new make spirit at the tasting events, then choose their cask. The 5-gallon cask, new for 2027, is bottled after about three years and yields around 24 bottles, a quantity suited to an individual or a family to enjoy at leisure.

“In 2018, we used Perfume Trees Gin to capture the flavours of Hong Kong,” said Kit Cheung (張寅傑), Co-founder, Tankyu Distillery. “Today, in the snow of Higashikawa, we are waiting for our first whisky to mature, slowly. We are launching the small 5-gallon cask so that more friends in Hong Kong can have a cask of Hokkaido whisky of their own, without having to buy a whole large cask at once. When it is opened in three years, it will give around 24 bottles to share with family and friends.”

1. 5-gallon cask (new): The new make spirit first matures for two and a half years in an ex-bourbon American Standard Barrel (ASB, about 200 litres). It then moves into a new American oak 5-gallon cask (about 19 litres) for a final six months, three years in total. A small cask has a higher ratio of wood contact to spirit and extracts faster. Used for the whole maturation, it can easily give too much oak, and small casks are also more prone to leaking. The spirit therefore spends its first two and a half years in an American Standard Barrel and moves into the 5-gallon cask only for the final six months, to complete its oak character. HK$24,800 per cask, available to order directly from the Hong Kong online store.
2. American Standard Barrel (ASB): About 200 litres, with a choice of Japanese-grown malted barley or peated British malt new make spirit; includes three years’ warehouse storage. HK$138,800 per cask.
3. Mizunara Hogshead: About 220 litres, filled in 2026, with a choice of Japanese-grown malted barley or British malt new make spirit; includes eight years’ warehouse storage. Price per cask:

○      British malt: HK$342,800

○      Japanese-grown malted barley: HK$359,800

Every cask is looked after by the distilling team in the Higashikawa warehouse. At bottling, a personal label can be added, whether the whisky is for your own enjoyment, for sharing with family and friends, or as a house whisky for a restaurant or bar.