Whiskey Hills Awards 2013 Ceremony Held

The Whisky Hills Award Executive Committee held the "Whisky Hills Award 2013" ceremony on November 12 at the Grand Hyatt Tokyo in Roppongi Hills, Minato-ku, Tokyo. The Executive Committee was established to promote the value and enjoyment of whisky to a wider audience and further develop whisky culture. Annually, the awards honor distinguished individuals deserving of titles such as "Whisky Master" and "Best Whisky Lover." This year, Mr. Kinya Kitaoji received the "Whisky Master" award, while Ms. Miho Kanno and Mr. Go Ayano jointly received the "Best Whisky Lover" award.

Mr. Kitaoji stated, "Whisky is born through years, decades, or even longer maturation. We too want to strive alongside whisky through our various work." Ms. Kanno remarked, "It feels romantic to think that the whisky I'm drinking now has been maturing for ages, and the whisky maturing now will be enjoyed by someone else far in the future." Mr. Ayano said, "If I had to describe whisky in one word, it would be 'profound'. It's profound and unfathomable. Tasting whiskies aged for different periods, even within the same brand, revealed such distinct flavors and aromas that I was moved and captivated by its charm."

Following this, the "Whiskey Hills 2013 Illumination Lighting Toast Ceremony" was held at Roppongi Hills 66 Plaza. As the winners of the "Whiskey Hills Award 2013" raised their glasses, a Christmas tree approximately 10 meters tall lit up in amber. Kanno remarked, "The deep orange at the top of the tree, that amber-colored part, looks just like whisky. It feels like a gradient inside a rocks glass."

Roppongi Hills will host various whisky-related events until December 25th, including the limited-time "Whisky & Illumination" bar where visitors can enjoy seven brands of whisky starting at ¥200 per glass while viewing the tree illuminations. For details, visit the Whisky Hills 2013 website.