Matsui Shuzo Gomei Gaisha (Kurayoshi Distillery, located in Kurayoshi City, Tottori Prefecture)’s “Hakuto Premium” has won the “World’s Best Contemporary Style Gin (World’s Highest Award)” at the world’s most prestigious gin competition “World Gin Awards (WGA) 2025” held in the United Kingdom, achieving the title of the world’s best gin.
Official HP: https://www.worldginawards.com/winner-gin/gin/2025/worlds-best-contemporary-style-gin-58448-world-gin-awards-2025
This award recognizes “Hakuto Premium” as the world’s finest gin of 2025 among gins from around the world entered in the Contemporary Style Gin category.
After five attempts, “Hakuto Premium” became the Japan representative (Country Winner) and further achieved the pinnacle of World’s Best, marking an unprecedented achievement in Matsui Shuzo’s history.
■ The Appeal of World’s Best “Hakuto Premium”
“Hakuto Premium,” named after Tottori Prefecture’s Hakuto (White Rabbit) legend, is a craft gin characterized by the harmony of carefully selected botanicals including Tottori Prefecture’s famous “pears” and juniper berries.
Its unique flavor profile unlike any other gin — featuring refreshing citrus aromas, the gentle sweetness of pears, and the exquisite fusion of spicy notes from black pepper and Japanese sansho pepper — received the world’s highest evaluation.
Achieving the world’s best title is proof that this craft gin born in Tottori Prefecture has been highly acclaimed worldwide, representing the greatest honor for our company.
■ The Dedication Behind “Hakuto Premium”
“Hakuto Premium” was created by combining Japanese essence with Western distillation techniques to bring a new breeze to Japan’s craft gin market from Tottori Prefecture.
□ Craft Gin Using “Pears”
Luxuriously using “pears,” Tottori Prefecture’s representative specialty product.
The refreshing aroma and natural sweetness of pears brought unique depth and fruity flavor to the gin.
This flavor profile resulted in worldwide high acclaim.
□ Globally Recognized Spicy Flavor
Carefully selected fruit-based botanicals such as yuzu and pears, combined with spice-based botanicals like Japanese sansho pepper and black pepper, blended in exquisite balance with juniper berries.
This one-of-a-kind flavor left a strong impression on the judges.
□ World’s Highest Recognition After Five Attempts
As a result of continuously pursuing quality as a premium gin, we were selected as Country Winner on our fifth attempt and further achieved the world’s best World’s Best title.
The fruition of our years of challenge and achieving this crown brings us unprecedented great joy.
■ Product Information
★World’s Best Contemporary Style Gin Award Winner
Matsui Gin “Hakuto Premium”
Volume: 700ml
Alcohol content: 47%
“Hakuto Premium,” named after Tottori Prefecture’s White Rabbit legend.
Building upon Matsui Gin “Hakuto” which uses 9 types of botanicals centered on Tottori Prefecture’s specialty “pears,” we added 5 types of premium botanicals to create a more aromatic finish.
Please enjoy the complex flavor and refreshing aftertaste of this world’s best gin.
■ About World Gin Awards (WGA)
The “World Gin Awards (WGA)” is one of the most prestigious competitions in the gin industry, selecting the finest brands by style from gins around the world.
Through blind tasting (tasting with brands concealed), comprehensive evaluation of flavor, aroma, balance, and other factors is conducted, with rigorous judging from Country Winners representing each country to World’s Best determining the world’s finest gin.
“World’s Best Contemporary Style Gin” is the highest title in the Contemporary Style Gin category, and through this award, “Hakuto Premium” has been recognized as the world’s best gin of 2025.
Official HP: https://www.worldginawards.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 “Matsui Whisky” brand products with names inspired by local areas such as “Kurayoshi,” “Tottori,” and “San’in” not only domestically in Japan but also in over 65 countries worldwide.
With this achievement of the world’s best title, we will continue to pursue further quality improvement and challenges on the global stage.
