Suntory, with iconic whisky brands such as Yamazaki, Hibiki and Hakushu, recently celebrated its 100th anniversary of whisky making in Japan.
It was back in 1923, when Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii started making whisky at the Yamazaki Distillery, just outside of Kyoto, Japan.
Eighty years later, in 2003, one of the fruits of his labor, the Yamazaki 12 Years Old, was awarded Gold at the International Spirits Challenge.
In a statement from Suntory, the company noted that they will continue to enhance quality and craftsmanship by focusing on processes before maturing whiskies, and the brand will elevate its visitor experience by investing approximately 10 billion JPY (equivalent to approximately 77 million USD) by 2024 into its Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries.
Suntory will operate floor malting, a traditional process of malting barley, at both the Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries. The Hakushu Distillery will also introduce a process to cultivate yeast, a fundamental ingredient for making alcohol.
Since 1968, the pilot distillery in Yamazaki saw the majority of enhancements for Suntory Whisky through new technology development and “Tsukuriwake,” the craftsmanship of diverse malt whiskies.
Now, the pilot distillery will install an electric heating pot still, in addition to the direct-firing pot still, to research future quality enhancements.
Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries will refresh their facilities to elevate the visitor experience, and the distiller aims to reopen to visitors in the fall of 2023.
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Key milestones in Suntory history:
- 1923 – The Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first malt whisky distillery, started construction on the outskirts of Kyoto.
- 1929 – Suntory Shirofuda (white label) launched as the first genuine whisky to be produced domestically.
- 1937 – Suntory Whisky Kakubin (square bottle) launched and becomes a long-selling product.
- 1972 – Sungrain Chita Distillery, the predecessor of Chita Distillery, established at the calm shores of Chita Peninsula in Aichi Prefecture.
- 1973 – The Hakushu Distillery established in the deep forest of the Japanese Southern Alps.
- 1984 – The launch of Yamazaki, followed by Hibiki (1989) and Hakushu (1993).
- 2003 – Yamazaki 12 Years Old awarded Gold at the International Spirits Challenge for the first time.
- 2010 – Suntory Liquors Limited, the former Suntory Spirits Limited, becomes the first Japanese company to be awarded the “Distiller of the Year” at the International Spirits Challenge.
- 2014 – Suntory Holdings acquired Beam Inc. and became one of the world’s leading spirits companies with a dynamic portfolio across key categories.
- 2022 – Hakushu 25 Years Old wins the Top Award “Trophy” in the Japanese Whisky Category at International Spirits Challenge.
To find out more about Suntory, its history and its future, check out www.house.suntory.com.
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