"SG Group has ranked in the 'Asia's Best Bars' for 8 consecutive years!! The SG Club (Shibuya) secured the 14th position!

"The SG Club" (Tokyo, Shibuya) has been selected every year since 2019 and received the 14th position this time.

In the recently announced list of ranks 51 to 100, "El Lequio" (Okinawa, Naha) ranked 80th, and "The Odd Couple" (China, Shanghai) ranked 87th.

This 8th edition of the awards saw a full-scale ceremony without restrictions for the first time in four years. Top bartenders and industry professionals from across Asia gathered in Hong Kong for the event. The festivities spanned three days, starting with the Bartenders' Feast at the Four Seasons Hotel on July 17, followed by the awards ceremony at the Rosewood Hotel on July 18, where SG Group representative Shingo Sagara was also in attendance. The closing party took place on July 19 at Aqua Hutong. Hong Kong, hosting the event for the first time, was filled with a celebratory atmosphere and vibrant energy throughout the three days.

About "ASIA'S 50 BEST BARS"

"ASIA'S 50 BEST BARS" is an award created in 2016 as the bar version of "ASIA’S 50 BEST RESTAURANTS," aiming to encompass the rapidly evolving bar scene in Asia. The award's voting panel consists of over 250 drink experts, including renowned bartenders, consultants, and cocktail specialists from various regions in Asia. They rank the top 50 bars by nominating seven establishments they believe are the most outstanding in Asia from their visits over the past 18 months.

The panel members travel across a wide range of bars, covering countries from East Asia to South Asia, including China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Korea, India, Indonesia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia. This diverse approach reflects the richness and diversity of the overall drink culture in Asia.

ASIA’S 50 BEST BARS https://www.worlds50bestbars.com/asia/

Left: 1F "Guzzle" Center: B1F "Sip" Right: 2F "Savor"

The bar consists of three floors:

• On the 1st floor, there is "Guzzle" where you can enjoy cocktails casually.
• The underground 1st floor houses "Sip," a place to savor drinks at a leisurely pace.
• The 2nd floor is a members-only lounge called "Savor," where you can relax and enjoy pairings of cigars and cocktails.

Inspired by the story of the 1860 Japanese diplomatic mission to the United States, the bar's interior design combines the styles of Edo (Tokyo) and New York. The cocktail menu is themed around the routes taken by the diplomatic mission. It has been ranked 14th in the 2023 ASIA’S 50 BEST BARS and 10th in the 2020 THE WORLD’S 50 BEST BARS.

Address: Toyo-san Building, 1-7-8 Jinnan, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Japan.

Instagram　https://www.instagram.com/the_sg_club/ 

・Gokan Shingo

Representing the SG Group, he is one of the most acclaimed bartenders in the world. He moved to the United States in 2006 and served as the head bartender at the renowned New York bar, Angel's Share. In 2012, he competed in the world's largest cocktail competition, Bacardi Legacy, as the American representative and won the world championship.

In 2014, he opened Speak Low in Shanghai. Since then, he has continued to open bars with innovative concepts and currently operates eight establishments both domestically and internationally. He holds the record for the most awards at the World's / Asia's Best Bars, having received the honor 45 times.

In 2017, he was awarded the "International Bartender of the Year" at Tales of the Cocktail, often referred to as the Oscars of the bar industry. At Asia's 50 Best Bars, he received the highest award for an individual, the "Altos Bartenders' Bartender," in 2019. In 2021, he was honored with the "Roku Industry Icon Award," given to the person who embodies the bar industry of that year, becoming the first bartender to receive both accolades.

・SG Group

BAR Culture Company, led by founder Shingo Gokan, is a company that boasts numerous accomplished bartenders with a track record in both international and domestic competitions. They develop and operate new concept bars that transcend the boundaries of traditional bars, earning them the highest number of awards at The World's 50 Best Bars.

In February 2020, they jointly developed "The SG Shochu," an authentic new concept shochu for bars, in collaboration with three sake breweries: Takahashi Shuzo (Kumamoto), Satsuma Shuzo (Kagoshima), and Sanwa Shurui (Oita). The lineup includes three varieties: "KOME," "IMO," and "MUGI." The product was released in China in 2021 and is set to launch in North America in the fall of 2022.

In March 2023, they partnered with Mizuho Shuzo (Okinawa) and One Spirit (also in Okinawa) to release "KOKUTO DE LEQUIO," a liqueur made from Ryukyu Awamori (Okinawan distilled spirit) and Okinawan brown sugar.

In the same month, they commenced the general sales of "SIP AND GUZZLE," a glassware brand designed in collaboration with Yutaro Kimura from Kimura Glassware (Tokyo). The glassware brand is available at bar tool shops like "OCHO" (Shibuya, Tokyo).

Overall, BAR Culture Company is known for pushing the boundaries of bar concepts, developing original alcoholic beverages, and offering unique glassware to the market.

[ Web ] https://sg-management.jp/ ( SG Management Inc. )
https://thesgshochu.com ( The SG Shochu )
https://www.instagram.com/i__am__sg ( SG Group Instagram )

Operated Establishments and Awards:

Speak Low (Shanghai) - The World's 50 Best Bars 10th (2017) / Asia's 50 Best Bars 2nd (2017) Sober Company (Shanghai) - The World's 50 Best Bars 39th (2021) / Asia's 50 Best Bars 5th (2021) / The Best Bar in Mainland China (2022) The SG Club (Tokyo) - The World's 50 Best Bars 10th (2020) / Asia's 50 Best Bars 14th (2023) / The Best Bar in Japan (2020, 2021) The Odd Couple (Shanghai) - Asia's 50 Best Bars 87th (2023) Esujirou / SG Low (Tokyo) - Opened in February 2021 swrl. [wine cocktail & kitchen] (Tokyo) - Opened in October 2021 El Lequio (Okinawa) - Opened on March 8, 2022 / Asia's 50 Best Bars 80th (2023) æ (ash) [zero-waste cafe & bar] (Tokyo) - Opened on May 30, 2022 The SG Shochu (authentic shochu) - San Francisco World Spirits Competition (2021) KOME・IMO: Double Gold Medal / MUGI: Gold Medal / Design category: Bronze Medal winner KOKUTO DE LEQUIO (liqueur) - Launched in March 2023 SIP AND GUZZLE (glassware) - Started general sales in March 2023 OCHO (bar tool shop) - Opened in Shibuya on June 16, 2023