Matsui Shuzo Limited Partnership (located in Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture) has won Gold for the first time at the “World Premix Awards 2025,” an international competition for RTD (※1) products worldwide held in the United Kingdom, with their “Daisen Highball” marking their first entry.
This award represents international recognition of our company’s products in the premixed drinks (※2) market and marks a significant step in promoting Japan’s RTD culture to the world.
Additionally, “Daisen Highball” has now received its second international competition award following ISC 2024, achieved within less than a year since its launch.
We are truly delighted that this product, completed after much trial and error, has received such high international acclaim.
Our desire to make “daily drinks more delicious and more accessible” will continue to reach more people as we pursue further research and continue our challenges.
(※1) RTD = Ready To Drink. Refers to beverages such as canned highballs and chu-hi that can be enjoyed immediately upon opening.
(※2) Premixed drinks refer to beverages where cocktails or spirits and mixers are pre-mixed and provided in bottles or cans.
■Truly a “Highball You Want to Drink Every Day”
“Daisen Highball” was developed with the desire to let people easily enjoy at home the taste of highballs served at authentic bars.
We went through extensive trial and error to achieve the perfect blend that brings out 100% of the original whisky’s aroma and flavor, and to adjust the carbonation for a refreshing mouthfeel. After many prototypes, we finally reached commercialization.
The aromatic, subtly sweet fruity flavor can be enjoyed both on its own and with meals.
□Achieving Carbonation Balance that Enhances Whisky’s Umami
In developing this product, we struggled to achieve an accessible price point for customers while creating a blend that allows 100% enjoyment of the original whisky’s aroma and flavor, and adjusting the carbonation amount to achieve a refreshing mouthfeel.
Through repeated prototyping, we finally reached our ideal flavor and achieved commercialization.
This allows customers to easily enjoy authentic highballs at home.
□Luxurious Adult Time Spreading from the Moment of Cheers
Through this highball can series, we aim to generate more customer interest in our whisky products.
Additionally, by proposing new ways to enjoy whisky in this format, we hope to contribute to the further revitalization of the entire whisky industry.
□Our Philosophy
We believe our commitment to delivering uncompromising flavor while maintaining the casual enjoyment of RTD led to this award.
We will continue developing products that meet our customers’ needs.
■Red Wine Cask-Finished Whisky “Making Rarity Accessible”
Whisky aged in red wine casks has limited production compared to standard aging methods, with very little market circulation.
Often sold as premium bottles, opportunities for casual enjoyment have been limited.
Making such rare whisky accessible to everyone as a standard highball can was a new endeavor.
We needed to overcome many challenges including procurement stability, cost considerations, and manufacturing processes to maintain consistent flavor.
We leveraged our years of accumulated experience to realize this challenge.
“Daisen Highball” has become a uniquely Matsui Shuzo product that allows easy enjoyment of the rich flavor and depth characteristic of red wine casks.
□Making Rare Flavors Feel Familiar
In the highball can market, products using red wine cask-finished whisky are rarely seen.
This is due to significant barriers in ingredient procurement difficulty and stable supply challenges.
Understanding the characteristics of our original spirits, we created this product from our desire to deliver authentic flavors not only in bottled products but also to the RTD market for daily enjoyment.
We continued uncompromising development until commercialization, enabling more people to easily experience whisky that attracts attention both domestically and internationally.
The international recognition of “Daisen Highball” born from this process proves that this new challenge has borne fruit.
□Product Information
☆Gold Award Winner
“Daisen Highball”
Suggested retail price: ¥180 excluding tax (¥198 including tax)
Volume: 350ml
Alcohol content: 7%
Ingredients: Whisky (domestic production), dietary fiber / carbonation, acidulant
“Daisen Highball” uses red wine barrel-finished whisky.
Features deep, rich aromas reminiscent of grapes with fruity, mellow flavors.
Enjoy to your heart’s content with daily meals.
Official EC site product page:
https://shop-matsuiwhisky.com/items/6682451b23e19000276ddd3a
■The Globally Attention-Grabbing “Premix (RTD)” Category
“Premix” products have been gaining popularity worldwide in recent years.
Canned cocktails and highballs made with whisky or spirits mixed with carbonation or fruit are rapidly expanding in the market, particularly among younger demographics, due to their “convenience,” “consistent taste,” and “stylishness.”
Japanese whisky-based highballs are particularly attracting attention overseas as “Japanese Craft.”
The “World Premix Awards” was held in this context.
This is essentially the World Cup of the premix world, selecting the “most delicious bottle” from RTD products worldwide.
After rigorous judging through blind tasting, “Daisen Highball” proudly won the gold medal.
■About World Premix Awards (WPA)
The “World Premix Awards (WPA)” is an international competition that selects the finest brands from premixed beverages (RTD: Ready to Drink) worldwide.
This competition conducts judging across various categories including canned cocktails, highballs, and flavored alcoholic beverages, with rigorous evaluation through blind tasting.
Products are evaluated from multiple perspectives including flavor, balance, package design, and consumer appeal, with award-winning products expected to gain increased recognition in international markets.
In the rapidly growing premix market, this serves as an important indicator of recognized quality and innovation.
Official website: https://www.worldpremixawards.com/
■About Kurayoshi Distillery
Kurayoshi Distillery is located in Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture, and manufactures and sells distilled spirits including whisky.
Under the management philosophy of “bringing happiness to people through alcohol production,” we sell our “Matsui Whisky” brand with product names inspired by local areas such as “Kurayoshi,” “Tottori,” and “San’in” not only domestically in Japan but also in over 50 countries worldwide.
Never satisfied with the status quo, we predict distribution and sales 10, 20, and 30 years ahead, continuously creating new value for the world.
■Company Information
Matsui Shuzo Limited Partnership Kurayoshi Distillery
〒682-0934 656-1 Kamifurukawa, Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture
Official website: https://matsuiwhisky.com
■Product Inquiries
Matsui Shuzo Limited Partnership
Please contact us by phone (06-4309-6250) or email (info@matsui-shuzo.co.jp).
※We decline all sales inquiries
■Press Release Inquiries
Matsui Shuzo Limited Partnership Public Relations
Please contact us by email (pr@matsui-shuzo.co.jp).
※We decline all sales emails regarding SEO, marketing, systems, etc.
