Year-End Tradition "Whiskey Hills 2015" Kicks off in Roppongi again this year

Whisky Hills 2015 (hosted by Suntory Spirits), the annual year-end event aiming to convey the wide-ranging enjoyment of whisky and promote whisky culture, commenced on November 17th at Roppongi Hills in Minato Ward, Tokyo.

Prior to the event's opening, the Whisky Hills Awards 2015 ceremony was held at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo. This award selects two categories: "Whiskey Master," presented to a prominent figure who has long been active at the forefront of a specific field, whose relentless challenges have resulted in widely recognized achievements; and "Best Whiskey Lovers," presented to new image leaders whose daily dedication to creating their own worldview resonates with the unique values of whiskey, such as "time" and "maturation." Now in its seventh year, the awards have been held since 2009.

Taking the stage with special whisky bottle trophies were judoka Tadahiro Nomura and talent Chiaki Horan, selected as Lovers, and actor Shinichi Tsutsumi, selected as Master.

Nomura, who achieved the feat of winning three consecutive Olympic gold medals, said, "I'm happy that sticking to my own judo throughout my long career has been recognized." Horan, whose down-to-earth character has earned her support and who is active on TV programs, drew laughter by saying, "I'm in my 15th year in show business. As a person, I'm still a work in progress, but whisky-wise, I'm probably at just the right level of maturation."

Tsutsumi, one of Japan's leading actors, stated, "I'm still studying and training when it comes to whisky, and I want to work hard to love it even more deeply," sharing his experiences visiting whisky regions and makers around the world. Showing photos via slides, he highlighted his amazement at the delicate blending process at Yamazaki, his experience digging peat essential for whisky-making on Islay (Scotland), and the wax sealing of bottles at Maker's Mark (USA). "I truly felt how the differences in each region's climate, people, water, and ingredients manifest in the character of the whisky," he said. The two Lovers members also joined in the lively whisky discussion, adding comments like, "Taking time, repeating the process, honing the craft. I think whisky making is also an eternal journey," and "When you taste whisky knowing the land it comes from, its deliciousness really stands out."

Following the awards ceremony, the "Whisky Hills 2015 Illumination Lighting and Toast Ceremony" was held at Roppongi Hills 66 Plaza. As the three award winners shouted "Whisky!" and toasted, the Christmas tree lights came on, creating a scene that evoked the year's end.

Whiskey-themed events will be held at the same venue until December 25.

The "World Whiskey Bar" set up at Hills Cafe/Space offers global whiskeys, a tasting set of the five major whiskey types, and original food pairings. At 66 Plaza, a standing bar allows visitors to enjoy whiskey while viewing the Christmas tree.

Whiskey Hills Official Website: http://whiskyhills.jp/top.html#/boards/whiskyhills_fan