Beam Suntory's International Blended Whisky Oaksmith Gold Bags Global Recognition
Beam Suntory's International Blended Whisky Oaksmith Gold Bags Global Recognition
India’s first International Blended Whisky ‘Oaksmith Gold’ was recently recognized at two of world’s most prestigious awards in alco-beverages. At the 13th Annual SIP Awards at California, USA, ‘Oaksmith Gold’ and its blend variant ‘Oaksmith International’ won Gold and Double Gold – a testament to the Finest Japanese Craftsmanship and world class quality Oaksmith delivers given its commitment to purity, precision and finest ingredients.
As the world's only internationally recognized spirits competition that uses real consumers as a judging panel, both blend variants of Oaksmith competed with more than 1,000 brands from 49 countries, judged on the basis aroma, taste and finish.
At the 4th London Spirits Competition, Beam Suntory India’s first IMFL whisky won 2 bronze medals for both its variants ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and ‘Oaksmith® International’, which is the ultimate seal of approval in the global spirits industry.
In order to receive this distinction, ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and ‘Oaksmith® International’ needed to score highly in three different categories: Quality, Value and Packaging. The judging panel consisted of spirits industry experts with commercial buying responsibility. This ensured that all spirits selected as winners in the competition were exactly the types of spirits that are favored by both the spirits trade and the end consumer. Spirits were judged on the basis of three primary criteria – quality, value and packaging – and then scored on a 100-point scale.
Commenting on the awards, Neeraj Kumar, Managing Director, Beam Suntory India said “It is a moment of great pride for our first IMFL whisky brands ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and ‘Oaksmith® International’ to receive such a grand recognition from the London Spirits Competition. This award is a true honor and testament to the very reason Oaksmith was launched in India - to be a brand of choice for all while continuing to offer a premium experience that brings the best of East and West to our Indian consumers
The authority that an award from the London Spirits Competition brings, comes from the power of being judged across various factors. We are extremely delighted that our first IMFL whisky brands, ‘Oaksmith® Gold’ and ‘Oaksmith® International’ performed so well.”
Oaksmith® has been created by world-renowned blender Shinji Fukuyo, Chief Blender, Suntory - using traditional Japanese craftsmanship, blending the best quality Scotch Malt whiskies and smoothest American Bourbons to make a whisky that is absolutely unique and extremely authentic to Indian taste. From seed to sip, the whisky is meticulously crafted to achieve a blend like no other resulting in a bold spirit that is rich on the nose yet approachable and well-balanced on one’s palate with a bright, smooth and unexpectedly long finish. The launch of Oaksmith® Gold and Oaksmith® International whisky in India is key to Beam Suntory’s growth strategy and signifies the importance of Indian market to the global spirits company. The brand has already sold 100,000 cases in a few months since its launch in India.
Oaksmith® promises of impeccable quality owing to Beam Suntory’s Japanese legacy and heritage and brings the distinguished flavour profile and packaging. The blend is prepared with the best ingredients and with sincerity of method that is a characteristic of Beam Suntory's Japanese history. All of which is
exclusive to this brand in the Indian whisky market. The multiple prestigious awards and accreditation over the months after its inception are testaments to its growing success. Given the distinctly different and nuanced universes of whisky that it ties up together gained Oaksmith® two of the most prestigious alco-beverage awards–the Gold and Double Gold at the 13th Annual SIP Awards in California, USA, as well as the bronze for quality, value, and packaging at the 4th London Spirits Competition. Adding on to the list, it also won a gold at the European Spirits Challenge in 2022. With such overwhelming recognition, the brand is hosting a success party in Assam to commemorate its triumph among Indian whisky connoisseurs