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WWA Hall of Fame 2026

TADASHI SAKUMA
Nikka Whisky Former Chief Blender Received
HALL OF FAME at WWA 2026

WWA ceremony

Tadashi Sakuma, a former Nikka Whisky employee and Chief Blender from 2011 to 2021, received the Hall of Fame award at the World’s Whiskies Awards (WWA), a globally renowned competition. The Hall of Fame is an award presented by Paragraph Publishing—the publisher of the UK’s Whisky Magazine and organizer of the WWA—to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the whisky industry over many years.

The Hall of Fame has been announced annually since 2004. This marks the fifth Japanese inductee and the second recipient from Nikka Whisky, after Colin Ross (then General Manager of Nikka Whisky’s Ben Nevis Distillery in Scotland) in 2016.

At the WWA ceremony held in London on March 25, the organizers introduced him with the words, “Tadashi Sakuma joined Nikka Whisky in 1982 and has become an integral part of the brand’s success and identity. His honest and unpretentious character with relaxed energy has made him hugely popular among his peers and whisky lovers“, and a hearty round of applause was given to him as he took the stage.

Chief Blender of The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.: Junji Iseki

In addition to the Hall of Fame for Tadashi, Nikka Whisky received a trophy for Nikka Session as the category winner of best International blended malt. Nikka‘s current chief blender Junji Iseki received the shield.

World Whiskies Awards (WWA)

An international whisky competition held since 2007 by "Whisky Magazine" in the UK. Judging is conducted strictly through blind tasting by whisky critics and bartenders from various countries. Whiskies entered from around the world undergo rigorous judging before final assessment in London, the Best Category Award is given from each category such as "Blended Malt Whisky (Pure Malt) Category," "Single Malt Whisky Category," and "Blended Whisky Category."

Comment from the Former Chief Blender of The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.: Tadashi Sakuma

I am grateful and honored to receive this award, which came as a great surprise. It also fills me with deep emotion as I look back on my long journey making whisky at Nikka. Since joining the company in 1982, I had been involved in a wide range of roles, including producing malt whisky at the Yoichi Distillery, procurement at headquarters, assignments in Europe, working at the Tochigi Plant, and serving as a blender. During that time, I faced a lot of difficulties and challenges, but I also had the opportunity to meet so many people both inside and outside the company, and I experienced the joy to collaborate with them and achieve something together. I believe that this award recognizes the collective efforts of all the craftspeople at Nikka. This is also thanks to our loyal customers, who have supported Nikka. I find great reassurance in the younger generation of colleagues who devote themselves to their jobs every day. I sincerely hope that Nikka Whisky will continue to grow for years to come, and that the entire whisky industry will advance even further.

Former Chief Blender of The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.: Tadashi Sakuma
View past award history
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