By Evan Arroyo By Evan Arroyo | December 4, 2023 | Presented By,
ICONIC Spirits Portfolio
As a global mecca for entertainment, fine dining and nightlife, Las Vegas is a launching pad for premium spirits brands looking to build influence with enthusiasts who flock to the city’s restaurants and nightlife venues from all over the world. In just under a year, an innovative portfolio of super-premium Japanese spirits has won over the taste buds of the city's aficionados. Since their dazzling debut in early 2023, AWAYUKI Japanese Strawberry Gin, HAIKEN Handcrafted Japanese Vodka, and Japanese whiskies TEITESSA, Shunka Shuto and BIKOKU from artisanal producer ICONIC Spirits and its parent company Brand House Group, have rapidly ascended to become celebrated indulgences among Las Vegas residents and visitors alike.
Under the vision of Brand House Group founder and Chairman/CEO Julious Grant, ICONIC Spirits is revolutionizing Las Vegas' spirits landscape. "Las Vegas is a city that celebrates the finest in life, and with our Japanese collection, we're bringing an exclusive taste of Japan's rich cultural heritage and artisanal excellence," says Grant. "Each spirit in our portfolio is more than a drink; it's an invitation to explore new horizons and embrace the artistry of Japanese craftsmanship, with flavor profiles produced using time-honored methods and the rarest ingredients.”
AWAYUKI Japanese Strawberry Gin
Leading the charge among ICONIC Spirits’ unique offerings, AWAYUKI stands out as a trailblazer in the gin category. Infused with rare and enchanting strawberries from Japan's Nara prefecture, this gin offers an intricate dance of delicate and complex flavors that bring a fresh, exotic flourish to classic cocktails. The recent first place winner in the flavored gin category at the 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge among hundreds of entrants from around the world, AWAYUKI’s versatility and distinctive taste profile have not only made it a mainstay in the city's vibrant hospitality industry, but also a darling of Vegas's elite mixologists.
HAIKEN Vodka, another jewel from ICONIC Spirits, skillfully harnesses the crystal-clear waters of Mt. Katsuragi and the premium rice of Hyogo to craft a vodka experience that is quintessentially Japanese. Its refined expressions — Original, Yuzu, and particularly the Lychee, which was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition —have redefined vodka sophistication, capturing the imagination of Las Vegas' trendsetters and connoisseurs. "A sip of HAIKEN is a journey through Japan's pristine landscapes," Grant reflects. "Its intricate and subtle flavors are perfect for creative vodka cocktails, elevating any celebration. It’s become one of our best sellers for a reason.”
The foundation of the portfolio are ICONIC’s three remarkable Japanese whisky brands, each completely unique and vastly superior to other products on the market.
TEITESSA Japanese Single Grain Whisky
TEITESSA, with its range of single-grain Japanese whiskies aged between 15 and 30 years, brings an unmatched level of elegance to Vegas' whisky enthusiasts. Like with HAIKEN Lychee Vodka, the TEITESSA 30-year expression was awarded a Gold Medal in the 2023 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, underscoring its exceptional quality. Made from Koshihikari, Japan's finest rice variety, TEITESSA is distilled using age-old Japanese techniques. It is produced in the distinctive Sato still, a beehive-like still that ensures a smoother finish by enabling an early tail cut. This process gives TEITESSA a more refined and gentle profile compared to Scotch whisky. Its flavor embodies the finesse of Japanese artisanship, presenting a harmonious blend of mild sweetness and a delightful, fruity, enduring finish – a hallmark of Japanese whisky's unique taste.
"TEITESSA is a journey into the heart of Japanese whisky craftsmanship," Grant adds. "Its reception in Vegas is indicative of the city's appreciation for spirits that embody both heritage and innovation."
Shunka Shuto, a Japanese blended whisky with four unique expressions inspired by Japan’s vibrant seasons, stands as a testament to the artful blending of corn, rice, and malted whiskies, each aged 5 to 6 years in used bourbon barrels. Originating from the scenic Yamanashi Prefecture, known for its extreme temperature variations, this whisky is meticulously crafted with soft mountain spring water from the iconic Mt. Fuji. Each expression offers a distinct flavor profile that captures the essence of traditional Japanese whisky craftsmanship. With nuanced layers ranging from the light, fruity touch with biscuit undertones to the rich, malt-heavy notes with hints of caramel, Shunka Shuto presents an elegant symphony of tastes that cater to both the whisky connoisseur and the curious explorer. A recent Silver Award Winner in the esteemed 2023 San Francisco Spirits Competition for Shunka Shuto’s Autumn expression, the brand is more than a whisky; it's a celebration of nature's rhythm.
According to Grant, “Shunka Shuto’s distinctive characteristics are designed to harmonize with the foods, aromas, and elements of each season, offering a sensory journey year-round unlike any other spirit on the market.”
BIKOKU Pure Malt Japanese Whisky is crafted with precision and care in Yamanashi Prefecture. Distilled using water from an underground aquifer fed by Mt. Fuji's snowmelt, BIKOKU boasts a supremely smooth profile due to the water's low pH balance. The master blender meticulously selects high-grade barley, distilling and aging the blend for a minimum of four years in American bourbon barrels. This results in a distinctive whisky with rich nutty, vanilla, and spicy flavors, deepened by malt and fruity aromas from barrel aging. BIKOKU is also available in 8 and 12-year expressions, with the 12-year being particularly noteworthy, having won a Gold Medal (95 rating) and the Japanese 12-year Whiskey of the Year Honor at the 2023 New York International Spirits Competition. Known for its smooth, smoky, and balanced profile, with notes of toffee and oak, BIKOKU is an exquisite choice for sipping neat or blended with sparkling water.
Grant, a spirits industry veteran of three decades who’s held high-ranking roles with Beam Suntory, Bacardi, Moët Hennessy and Diageo to name a few, founded Brand House Group and ICONIC Spirits with a mission to bring artisanal, authentic brands to lovers of unique, delicious spirits. His Japanese offerings stand as a testament to Grant's vision of merging world-class craftsmanship with contemporary appeal. Marked by strategic partnerships with top distributors and prominent placement in upscale bars and clubs, all five brands are building a reputation for bringing something genuinely unique to the city's eclectic spirits landscape.
“As Las Vegas continues to be a global hub for luxury and innovation, our goal is to make each spirit an experience, a memorable part of this vibrant lifestyle," concludes Grant. “So far, our creations have been particularly well received in Las Vegas and we look forward to continued expansion as the city’s elite venues are quickly catching on.”
In addition to being available at a variety of Las Vegas restaurants and nightlife venues, AWAYUKI, HAIKEN, TEITESSA, Shunka Shuto and BIKOKU are also available for purchase at select independent wine & spirits retailers and Total Wine & More locations, as well as platforms like Drizly, Wine.com and through the ICONIC Spirits website.
Photography by: Courtesy of ICONIC Spirits