A new logo, featuring 'JW' within a whisky cask design and the text 'JAPANESE WHISKY' and 'JSLMA,' will identify certified products. The trademark is pending in Japan, with international filings planned.

The JSLMA has been working at this initiative for awhile, having introduced its Japanese Whisky labeling standards in 2021, but full enforcement starts only April 2024. Established in 1953, JSLMA represents 104 Western liquor manufacturers in Japan and is a key player in setting industry standards.

New regulations mandate that for a whisky to be labeled as Japanese, it must be produced exclusively from raw materials sourced in Japan—malted grains and water included—and all stages of production, namely saccharification, fermentation, and distillation, must occur within the country.

The move comes as JSLMA is also ramping up plans to register Japanese Whisky for Geographical Indication status, as well as collaborating with the National Tax Agency to formalize regulations under the Liquor Industry Association Act.

Kanpai!

88 Bamboo Editorial Team