December 2nd (Saturday) and 3rd (Sunday), 2023 - Event Confirmed! 'Whi

The Whiskey Culture Research Institute Co., Ltd. has decided to host the 'Whiskey Festival 2023 in Tokyo' event at the Bellsalle Takadanobaba Event Hall over the course of two days, December 2nd (Saturday) and 3rd (Sunday), 2023.

Annually, we organize the 'Whiskey Festival,' an event where a variety of international liquors, including world whiskies and spirits, are available for tasting and purchase not only for bartenders and liquor store professionals but also for general enthusiasts. This year, we have decided to hold the event in Tokyo in December.

[Website] https://whiskyfestival.jp/tokyo2023/

Following the successful tasting seminar held for the first time in four years in Osaka in June, we will also host a tasting seminar at the Tokyo venue, once again after four years. In the first session, we are planning a special talk session featuring five companies (Kirin Brewery Co., Ltd., Suntory Holdings Limited, Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd., Venture Whisky Inc., Honbo Shuzo Co., Ltd.), which have long been at the forefront of Japan's whisky industry. This year marks the centennial of Japan's genuine entry into whisky making. Anticipate an insightful special talk show in 2023, where the blenders will look back on the past 100 years and discuss the future of Japanese whisky, reflecting on this significant milestone in Japan's whisky history.

・Event Overview

Event Name: Whiskey Festival 2023 in Tokyo Date and Time: December 2nd (Saturday) - Session 1: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM / Session 2: 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM December 3rd (Sunday) - Session 3: 10:00 AM - 1:30 PM / Session 4: 2:30 PM - 6:00 PM *The above schedule is subject to slight changes. Entry Restriction: 4 Sessions with complete replacement, 1,200 attendees per session, total limit of 4,800 attendees Venue: Bellsalle Takadanobaba Event Hall 　3-8-2 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0072 Sumitomo Realty Shinjuku Garden Tower 　https://www.bellesalle.co.jp/shisetsu/shinjuku/bs_takadanobaba/access/ Admission Fee: 4,400 JPY (including tax) Ticket Release Date: Late September (scheduled) 　*Advance ticket sales for Whiskey Culture Research Institute members in late September (scheduled) Organizer, Planning, and Operation: Whiskey Culture Research Institute

This event is open not only to bartenders and liquor industry professionals but also to general enthusiasts. It will be divided into two sessions per day, with a total of 1,200 attendees per session (4 sessions totaling 4,800 attendees), implementing a complete replacement system. Each booth within the venue will offer not only whiskey and spirits tasting and sales but also provide an opportunity for direct interaction with the producers, which is a significant highlight. This year, we celebrate the '100th Anniversary of Japanese Whiskey,' and through conveying the allure of whiskey to numerous fans, we aim to contribute to the further cultural development of the industry with this event.

・About Whiskey Culture Research Institute

The Whiskey Culture Research Institute is a membership-based enthusiast group led by whiskey critic Mamoru Tsuchiya. Since its establishment in March 2001, the institute has conducted extensive research to delve into both domestic and international whiskey and alcohol culture. They focus on information gathering and dissemination. Collaborating with individuals in the industry, they have devised and executed initiatives aimed at nurturing whiskey enthusiasts and consumers, as well as spreading whiskey culture.

They are responsible for editing and publishing the only domestic whiskey-specialized magazine, 'Whisky Galore,' as well as organizing and managing events like the Whiskey Festival. Furthermore, they oversee the qualification certification system 'Whiskey Connoisseur Certification Examination,' which assesses knowledge and appraisal abilities in everything related to whiskey, and the 'Whiskey Proficiency Test,' which tests knowledge for enjoying whiskey. Since 2019, they have been operating the only Japanese whiskey and spirits competition, the 'Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition (TWSC),' where they judge whiskies and spirits from around the world.

・Profile of Mamoru Tsuchiya, Representative of Whiskey Culture Research Institute

Born in 1954 in Sado, Niigata Prefecture. Graduated from the Faculty of Letters at Gakushuin University. After working as a weekly magazine journalist, he went to the UK in 1987. During his research trip to Scotland, he encountered his first taste of Scotch Single Malt, which ignited his passion for Scotch whisky. Upon returning to Japan, he flourished as a whiskey critic and in 1998, he was chosen as one of the 'Five Whiskey Writers of the World' by Highland Distillers Ltd.

From September 2014 to March 2015, he served as a consultant for whiskey-related historical accuracy for NHK's morning TV drama series 'Massan.' He has authored numerous books, including 'The Complete Book of Single Malt Scotch' and 'The Complete Book of Blended Whiskey' (both published by Shogakukan), 'Masataka Taketsuru and Whiskey' (Tokyo Shoseki), 'The Complete Whiskey Bible' (Natsume), 'Japanese Whiskey as Business Acumen: Why Fine Whiskey Sells for 200 Million Yen' (KADOKAWA), and 'Japanese Whiskey as Practical Business Knowledge' (Shodensha).

He is the editor-in-chief of the bi-monthly magazine 'Whisky Galore.' Among his recent works are 'Complete Edition: The Complete Book of Single Malt Scotch' (Shogakukan) and 'Mamoru Tsuchiya's Thousand and One Nights of Whiskey (5 volumes)' (Whiskey Culture Research Institute).

・Contact Information

Contact for Whiskey Culture Research Institute Whiskey Festival

Website: https://whiskyfestival.jp/tokyo2023/ (Event Homepage)

https://scotchclub.org/ (Whiskey Culture Research Institute Homepage)

Email: whisky-fes@scotchclub.org / Phone: 03-6277-4103 Address: 5F Tech Hiroo Building, 1-10-5 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012