Japanese Artistic Whisky: Suntory

Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Various grains (which may be malted) are used for different varieties, including barley, corn (maize), rye, and wheat. Whisky is typically aged in wooden casks, generally made of charred white oak.

Whisky is a strictly regulated spirits worldwide with many classes and types. The typical unifying characteristics of the different classes and types are the fermentation of grains, distillation, and aging in wooden barrels.








Japanese whisky is a style of whisky developed and produced in Japan. Whisky production in Japan began around 1870, but the first commercial production was in 1924 upon the opening of the country's first distillery, Yamazaki. Broadly speaking the style of Japanese whisky is more similar to that of Scotch whisky than other major styles of whisky.



There are several companies producing whisky in Japan, but the two best-known and most widely available are Suntory and Nikka. Both of these produce blended as well as single malt whiskies and blended malt whiskies, with their main blended whiskies being Suntory kakubin, and Black Nikka Clear. There are also a large number of special bottling and limited editions.














About Suntory











1923

Shinjiro Torii envisioned a whisky filled with the essence of Japanese nature and hand-crafted by artisans through a patient process of enhancing the work of nature.
He dreamt of creating subtle, refined, yet complex whisky that would suit the delicate palate of the Japanese and enhance their dining experience.

Inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, Torii envisioned a Japanese approach by choosing a terrain and climate completely different from those of Scotland.

Torii chose the region of Yamazaki, Kyoto as the birthplace of Japanese whisky.







1899

Shinjiro Torii founded the Torii Shoten store in Osaka.

1918

Torii invested his family fortune and pursued his dream of building

Japan’s first whisky distillery despite unanimous protest from company directors.

1923

The Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first single malt whisky distillery,

began construction in Yamazaki on the outskirts of Kyoto.

1927

Japan’s first whisky, Suntory Shirofuda (white label), launched and then failed.

1937

Torii launched Suntory Kakubin (square bottle). Today, Kakubin is the heart and soul of Japanese whisky and the country's No.1 seller.









1970

Suntory revolutionized the way to drink whisky by introducing "Mizuwari"

(the blending of whisky with water) and pairing it with Japanese cuisine.

1973

Keizo Saji inherited his father’s quest to push the boundaries of what a Japanese whisky could be.

He built the Hakushu Distillery to commemorate the 50th anniversaryof Japanese whisky-making and to diversify Suntory’s single malt portfolio.





1984

Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki is released.



1989

Suntory Blended Whisky Hibiki is released.

 


1994

Suntory Single Malt Whisky Hakushu is released.






Award

2003- Yamazaki 12 Years Old wins a "Gold Award" at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) in the United Kingdom. Yamazaki is now celebrated as the No.1 selling Japanese single malt whisky.



2010- The House of Suntory is the first Japanese whisky manufacturer to be awarded ISC "Distiller of the Year".



2012- Suntory awarded ISC "Distiller of the Year" for the second time and becomes the first distiller in ISC history to claim two whisky category "Trophies" in the same year. The ISC "Trophy" is awarded to Yamazaki 18 Years Old and Hakushu 25 Years Old.



2013- Suntory wins ISC "Distiller of the Year" for its third time. The ISC "Trophy" is awarded to Hibiki 21 Years Old.



2014- Suntory wins ISC "Distiller of the Year" for three consecutive years, fourth time in total. The ISC "Trophy" is awarded to Hibiki 21 Years Old for two consecutive years.