A Fresh Breeze in London’s Bar Scene: Three WA-SPIRITS Products Officially Launch in the UK Capital, with a Pop-Up Event at London Cocktail Week 2025

Sanwa Shurui, the company behind iichiko shochu, has officially launched WA-SPIRITS in London. With their distinctive flavors born from koji, these spirits are opening up new possibilities for the cocktail scene. And there’s more—the UK’s largest bar event, London Cocktail Week 2025, is just around the corner! On October 9, iichiko will host a special pop-up event, where 10 leading bartenders will craft an unforgettable night.

WA-SPIRITS Launches in London

In September 2025, the WA-SPIRITS series was officially launched in London with a vibrant event.

The launch features three products: iichiko Saiten, iichiko Shinwa, and iichiko Silhouette. Each is a honkaku shochu, a uniquely Japanese distilled spirit made with koji and crafted using the techniques of traditional sake brewing⋆¹.Co-developed with top U.S. bartenders, iichiko Saiten, and in collaboration with world-renowned Japanese bartenders, iichiko Shinwa, both have an alcohol content of 43%—making them ideal bases for cocktails and designed with the bar scene in mind. Beloved in Japan for more than 40 years, iichiko Silhouette delivers rich depth and aroma at 25% ABV, showing remarkable potential even in lower-alcohol cocktails.

⋆1  Traditional sake brewing: The knowledge and techniques of brewing with koji fungus (also known as koji mold)—used in shochu, awamori, and sake—were inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list in December 2024.

At Bar LYANESS, a launch event was held to give bartenders and professionals from the beverage industry the chance to experience WA-SPIRITS firsthand and discover its appeal. Appearing as guest bartenders were Hidetsugu Ueno (owner-bartender of BAR HIGH FIVE / President of the Nippon Bartenders Association), Shingo Gokan (founder of SG Group), Soran Nomura (owner-bartender of Quarter Room), and Julia Momosé (owner-bartender of Bar kumiko). Each served three cocktails crafted with WA-SPIRITS.

With its official launch, WA-SPIRITS is now taking flight in London’s bar scene. Born from koji, these Japanese spirits are steadily gaining recognition around the world.

The Three WA-SPIRITS Products Launched in London

iichiko Saiten
ABV: 43%
The name iichiko Saiten (彩天) combines the characters for “color” and “sky,” expressing the idea of “adding new color to the world,” iichiko Saiten was co-developed with top U.S. bartenders. It features the toasty notes of barley koji and a bold, caramel-like depth, making it an ideal Japanese spirit for use as a cocktail base.

See product details here

iichiko Shinwa
ABV: 43%
Co-developed with world-renowned Japanese bartenders, iichiko Shinwa expresses the refinement of Japanese culture with its smooth taste and gentle aroma of koji. It delivers a delicate yet vibrant barley fragrance, subtle sweetness, and a long-lasting finish for a truly memorable profile—perfect as a cocktail base.

See product details here

iichiko Silhouette
ABV: 25%
A best-selling honkaku barley shochu long beloved in Japan. Despite its lower alcohol content as a cocktail base, it offers rich depth and aroma. With its excellent balance of drinkability and flavor, it has earned high praise as a base for lower-alcohol cocktails.

See product details here

iichiko to Host a Pop-Up Event at London Cocktail Week

London Cocktail Week, the UK capital’s largest celebration of the bar scene, will be held from October 9 to 19, 2025. As part of the festival, iichiko will once again host a pop-up event.

Held every October for 11 days, London Cocktail Week is renowned as the world’s first festival dedicated to cocktails. The event offers a wide variety of experiences, from signature cocktails created by London’s leading bars to special events, immersive pop-ups, and collaborations with international brands.

One of the highlights is the Curated Cocktail Tour, where more than 200 bars across London—from world-famous establishments to beloved local spots—participate. Visitors can purchase a dedicated wristband to enjoy signature cocktails at special prices, adding to the festival’s appeal.

This marks iichiko’s second appearance at London Cocktail Week. With the official launch of WA-SPIRITS in London, guests will have the chance to experience these Japanese-born spirits firsthand. Behind the bar will be ten outstanding bartenders: Kenta Goto, Ryu Fujii, Kevin Diedrich, Celia Schoonraad, Roman Foltan, Lukas Kaufmann, Rogerio Igarashi Vaz, Julia Momosé, Chris Hannah, and Masahiro Urushido. Don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy cocktails infused with the essence of “wa,” crafted by some of the world’s finest bartenders.

iichiko Pop-Up at London Cocktail Week │ Event Details

Date: October 9, 2025
Venue: NoMad London (Common Decency, 28 Bow Street, London, WC2E 7AW)
Reservation: Not required

Timetable
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
・Kenta Goto, Bar Goto / New York, USA
・Ryu Fujii, CRAFTROOM / Osaka, Japan
・Kevin Diedrich, Pacific Cocktail Haven (P.C.H.) / San Francisco, USA

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
・Celia Schoonraad & Roman Foltan
・Lukas Kaufmann, 28 HONGKONG STREET / Singapore
・Rogerio Igarashi Vaz, BAR TRENCH / Tokyo, Japan

10:00 PM – Midnight 
・Julia Momosé, kumiko / Chicago, USA
・Chris Hannah, Jewel of the South / New Orleans, USA
・Masahiro Urushido, Katana Kitten / New York, USA

For more information on London Cocktail Week click here