Japanese Whisky 5
News from Birthplace of Japanese Whisky
THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY WHISKY PROUDLY INTRODUCES
YAMAZAKI® 55 YEARS OLD™
From the birthplace of Japanese Whisky, Yamazaki® 55 – now available in select global markets – honours the legacy of three generations of Master Blenders and celebrates its harmony with nature with a donation for every newly released bottle to The White Oak Initiative.
LONDON, UK (9th September 2021) – In the much anticipated first-ever global release of the Yamazaki® 55, the House of Suntory pays tribute to the passage of time and the legacy of the founding family of Japanese whisky. Bottled in 2020, Yamazaki 55 – the House of Suntory’s oldest release in its history – celebrates the Japanese “Showa” era of the 1960s that represented a major period of change for the House of Suntory.
Extremely limited quantities of Yamazaki 55, of which 100 bottles were initially released in Japan in 2020, will reach select global markets including the United Kingdom, United States, Mainland China, and Taiwan later this month. Yamazaki 55 will be available to purchase in Harrods, Claridge’s and The Arts Club.
To honour its ongoing commitment to give back to society, Beam Suntory, will donate $5,000 USD for every bottle released in this year’s 100-bottle collection, totalling $500,000 USD, to The White Oak Initiative, a group committed to the long-term sustainability of America’s white oak forests.
Yamazaki 55 is a blend of precious single malts featuring components distilled in 1960 under the supervision of Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii and then aged in Mizunara casks; and in 1964 under Suntory’s Second Master Blender Keizo Saji and then aged in White Oak casks. Suntory’s Fifth-Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo worked closely with Third-Generation Master Blender Shingo Torii in deploying their signature art of blending to properly reveal the exceptional depth, complexity and wisdom that is Yamazaki 55. The resulting expression features a deep amber colour; robust aroma redolent of sandal wood and well-ripened fruit; sweet, slightly bitter and woody palate; and slightly bitter yet sweet and rich finish.
“Throughout the process of blending Yamazaki 55, I used as inspiration the passage of time and ‘Wabi-sabi’ – the Japanese belief that imperfections can help to ultimately contribute to perfection,” said Fukuyo. “While I often view other extra aged whiskies as art, I consider Yamazaki 55 to be more like a Buddhist statue: calm and mysterious, requiring time to truly enjoy the inner beauty.”
Yamazaki 55 is presented in a crystal bottle with the word “Yamazaki” carefully engraved in calligraphy using the technique of sandblasting and featuring real gold dust and lacquer on the age marking. The bottle’s opening is wrapped in handmade Echizen washi paper and bound with a Kyo-kumihimo plaited cord, a traditional craft from Kyoto. Each bottle is delivered in a bespoke box made from native Japanese Mizunara wood and coated with Suruga lacquer.
Tasting Notes – Yamazaki 55, 46% ABV
Color: Deep amber distinctive of Mizunara casks.
Nose: A robust aroma redolent of sandal wood. A sweet, mature bouquet like well-ripened fruit.
Palate: A soft, smooth first sip that blossoms in the mouth with flavor. A mixture of sweet and slightly bitter, followed by a woody note from the Mizunara cask.
Finish: Slightly bitter, a fragrance like scented wood and a hint of smokiness. A sweet, rich, lingering finish.
Yamazaki 55 will be available in extremely limited quantities starting this month at a suggested retail price of $60,000 USD excluding VAT and duties. Yamazaki 55 will be available to purchase in Harrods, Harvey Nichols, The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, Master of Malt.
Yamazaki 55 will also be available in The Arts Club, Annabel’s and Claridge’s. This limited-edition expression joins Yamazaki’s portfolio of award-winning whiskies including Yamazaki® 12, Yamazaki 18® and Yamazaki 25®.
From Yamazaki. Birthplace of Japanese whisky.
The Yamazaki Distillery is Japan’s first and oldest malt whisky distillery, built starting in 1923 by Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii. Yamazaki is not only the soul place of Suntory Whisky. It is the birthplace of Japanese Whisky.
Inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, it is said that Torii selected the land of Yamazaki at the foot of Mt. Tennozan, for its high-quality water source and natural environment, both of which are ideal for whisky making. Nestled proudly on the periphery of Kyoto, the area around Yamazaki Distillery has been long referred to as “Minaseno” famous for its exquisite natural water, even mentioned in the Man’yoshu, the ancient anthology of Japanese poetry. Home to Sen no Rikyu, Master of “The Way of Tea” and his renowned “Rikyu no Mizu” (water of the imperial villa), the waters of Yamazaki are selected by the Ministry of Environment as one of Japan’s one hundred best natural mineral waters.
Yamazaki lies in a misty valley between Mt.Tennozan and Mt. Otokoyama, where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers converge. Blessed with Japan’s rich four seasons, the diversity of this region’s temperature and humidity align to create the perfect conditions for the making of whisky.
ABOUT SUNTORY WHISKY
Since 1923, Suntory has been renowned as the pioneer of Japanese whisky for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki, and the Suntory legacy continued with Torii’s son, Keizo Saji, Suntory’s second master blender who continued to establish distilleries including the Hakushu distillery. As the generations of Suntory’s master blenders carry on, Suntory Whisky remains committed to heritage and innovation. The House of Suntory Whisky has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).
Suntory Whiskies are subtle, refined and complex. The portfolio includes two single malt whiskies: Yamazaki—Japan’s N°1 Single Malt, multi-layered and profound, Hakushu—verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky; and two blends: the noble blend, Hibiki—Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky and Suntory Whisky Toki.
whisky.suntory.com #SuntoryWhisky @SuntoryWhisky
Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky News
Whisky Category Set To Grow To £2.44 Billion by 2022
Inaugural
Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook Forecasts
The whisky category will return to growth over the coming year and, by 2022, will be worth £2.44 billion (up from £2.31 billion in 2018) according to research in the inaugural Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook.
The report, designed to be a guide to the trends in the UK whisky market, has been launched by Edrington-Beam Suntory UK to create a comprehensive guide to the key shifts in the category, as well as forecast the underlying trends and their impact.
The research shows that whisky as a whole will grow by £138 million in value in the coming three years – 6% growth over the period – and by over 200,000 cases.
|
2018 (actual) |
2022 (forecast) |
CAGR |
Total change |
Change |
|
|
Volume |
7.44m |
7.65m |
0.7% |
2.7% |
201k |
|
Value |
£2.31b |
£2.44b |
1.5% |
6.0% |
£138.37m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Mark Riley, Managing Director of Edrington-Beam Suntory UK said: “Whisky is one of the most diverse and dynamic of the spirits categories. Our forecast is that it is also one that will see growth over the next three years. Bartenders and retailers tell us that whisky is a key focus for them, with plans to invest in broadening their knowledge and range, ensuring they can accommodate the increasing appetite for the spirit from consumers in both on and off-trade.
“We would like the Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook to become a vital resource to track the changes as they happen and to look at the underlying trends in the category – both as a way to understand the market today and to forecast what is to come – as well as to offer insight into how we navigate the challenges and opportunities presented to us.”
Growth in Scotch single malt and US whisky
The principle drivers of this growth are set to be the Scotch single malt category which Edrington-Beam Suntory UK expects to see grow in value from £394 million in 2018 to £439 million in 2022.
The growth will come as a result of new “accessibly priced” single malts in the market and a closing of the price gap between single malts and blends – encouraging more blends drinkers to “trade up”.
At the same time, existing single malt drinkers are showing strong signs of trading up within the category as they explore limited bottlings and premium releases from the biggest names such as The Macallan and Bowmore amongst others.
Meantime, The Whisky Yearbook research also forecasts that American whiskies will see growth to 2022 – up from £688 million in 2018 to £742 million in 2022.
While there is uncertainty over the current tariffs imposed on US whiskies, the report is optimistic that growth will come from the growing “American premium” brands such as Maker’s Mark, Knob Creek, Bulleit and Woodford Reserve, which are helping to add value to the category.
Mark Riley said: “Our forecast is that Scotch single malt and American whiskies will drive future growth, continuing to attract new consumers to the whisky category and successfully appealing to existing customers with new expressions. Both are seeing customers trade-up as they explore the categories, which is supporting the increase in the value and volume of sales.”
Scotch and US Whiskies Volume Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Scotch Blend |
4.78m |
4.77m |
-0.3% |
-14.3k |
4.57m |
|
US Whiskey |
1.72m |
1.72m |
0.1% |
1.7k |
1.81m |
|
Scotch Malt |
0.81m |
0.85m |
3.7% |
30.1k |
0.90m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Scotch and US Whiskies Value Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Scotch Blend |
£1.05b |
£1.05b |
– |
– |
£1.01b |
|
US Whiskey |
£687.89m |
£694.77m |
1.0% |
£6.88m |
£742.23m |
|
Scotch Malt |
£393.86m |
£408.43m |
3.7% |
£14.57m |
£438.76m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Emergent categories in whisky
Further supporting the overall growth of whisky in the coming years will be the smaller sub-categories where growth will be substantial to 2022, according to Edrington-Beam Suntory UK forecasts.
Irish whiskey will grow by £28.5 million from its sales in 2018 to 2022 and is forecast to be worth £163.9 million. This has been largely driven by the category-leading brand, Jamesons, but the wider easing of supply of Irish whiskey into the UK market will support this growth yet further.
The growth of single grain whisky, meanwhile, has been one of the success stories of the last five years and growth will continue as the value of sales will almost double to £42.1 million in 2022 (from £21.5 million in 2018). As with Irish whiskey, a clear market leader – Haig Club – has led the increase, but there are now further brands joining the category which will increase the pace of growth.
Growth in sales of Japanese whisky will accelerate over the coming three years as there is greater volume available for export, as supply has been the only major barrier to its growth hitherto. The total value of sales will rise to £11.7 million by 2022 marking 44.4% growth. Canadian whisky also will grow to become a £9.0 million category over the next three years.
Mark Riley said: “Irish and single grain whiskies have been real success stories over the past twelve months – sharing rapid growth on an already strong base of both volume and value in the market. We expect both to play a greater role in shaping the wider market in the coming years.
“The supply challenges that have arguably held back growth in Japanese and Canadian whiskies have eased. While there remains a challenge securing enough liquid from leading brands from both nations to satisfy UK demand, there is far greater supply forecast and we predict we will see growth as a result.”
Irish, single grain, Japanese and Canadian Whiskies Volume Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Irish Whiskey |
304.33 |
330.20 |
8.5% |
25.87 |
366.41 |
|
Single Grain Whisky |
89.18 |
109.24 |
22.5% |
20.07 |
179.78 |
|
Japanese Whisky |
7.19 |
8.27 |
15.0% |
1.08 |
10.70 |
|
Canadian Whisky |
10.52 |
12.42 |
18.1% |
1.90 |
14.20 |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
Irish, Single Grain, Japanese and Canadian Whiskies Value Growth to 2022
|
2018 |
2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
Change 2018-2019 |
2022 |
|
|
Irish Whiskey |
£135.42m |
£147.21m |
8.7% |
£11.78m |
£163.86m |
|
Single Grain Whisky |
£21.51m |
£26.03m |
21.0% |
£4.51m |
£42.15m |
|
Japanese Whisky |
£8.10m |
£9.20m |
13.6% |
£1.10m |
£11.69m |
|
Canadian Whisky |
£6.62m |
£7.86m |
18.8% |
£1.24m |
£9.02m |
Source: CGA & Nielsen sales data for 2018 and IWSR growth forecasts for 2019 and 2022. Volume of 8.4 litre cases and total whisky value
The Edrington-Beam Suntory UK Whisky Yearbook will be published annually and can be accessed digitally at: www.thewhiskyyearbook.co.uk
Whisky News From The House of Suntory
The House of Suntory and Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch Announce Partnership to Mark the Start of Sakura Season
The House of Suntory and Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch have announced their partnership this springtime to celebrate the annual bloom of the Japanese Cherry Blossom, or Sakura, transforming the bar terrace into a tranquil city escape.
Launching on Friday 5th April, Hanami will showcase contemporary Japanese craftsmanship with a menu of exclusive cocktails, bespoke dishes and Afternoon Tea.
Inspired by the ancient practice of dining beneath the blossoming Sakura, Hanami will bring together the two globally recognised luxury brands in celebration of the artistry of modern Japan at the heart of both companies. Hanami will bring the spirit of this tradition to London, inviting guests to step through London’s newest Nobu restaurant into an oasis of calm inspired by Sakura’s distinctive pink foliage, with aromatic scent diffusers adding to the sensory experience.
The bar team at Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch, led by Beverage Manager Wilfried Rique, have worked closely with The House of Suntory to create an exciting original menu inspired by their unique range of premium Japanese Craft Spirits –Toki and Chita Whisky, Roku Gin and the newly-launched Haku Vodka.
Created from Japanese ingredients by the master artisans at the House of Suntory, the range of premium liquids embody Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii’s philosophy of monozukuri craftsmanship: a relentless pursuit of perfection, meticulous attention to detail and commitment to quality.
Showcasing a creative range of Japanese ingredients, teas and housemade infusions, the menu of seven bespoke cocktails will draw on a range of inspirations and is split into two sections: JAPANESE”MATIC” and HIGHBALLS.
The menu at Hanami will offer a selection of distinctive new dishes inspired by the creativity and vibrancy of the local area, alongside Nobu-Style bar snacks and world class sushi.
As part of The House of Suntory’s ongoing partnership with the renowned Japanese ink painting artist, OhGushi will be creating a bespoke art installation exclusively for the partnership. OhGushi will work with ink and water to create a free-hand design inspired by the elegance of Roku Gin and the urban landscape of Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch’s surroundings. The piece will be on display throughout April and May.
Nick Temperley, GM at Edrington-Beam Suntory, says “The House of Suntory is proud to partner with Nobu London to showcase the best of our Japanese Craft Spirits portfolio. We hope that customers will love the new cocktail menu created by The House of Suntory and the talented Wilfried Rique at Nobu. We also look forward to welcoming OhGushi to London for the partnership to capture our premium gin, Roku, and the spirit of Sakura season with his skilled and unique artistry”.
The House of Suntory presents Hanami at Nobu Hotel London Shoreditch will open to the public on Friday 5th April until Sunday 2nd June
WHISKY-ONLINE SHARE OCTOBER RESULTS
October Whisky Auction Results
Another raft of impressive prices were realised in our latest auction. The top item was, as expected, the cask of 1989 Macallan which fetched £90,100 – slightly higher than recent similar Macallan casks suggesting they may well be on the rise again as appetite remains undimmed. Perhaps more tellingly was the full set of Millennium Springbanks which hit £21,100, a record for this set by some distance. Given the way, prices have been going for older Springbanks recently this is hardly surprising. Hard to believe you could pick up a complete set for under £6000 a couple of years ago.
A second edition Black Bowmore was similarly impressive at £13,100. Although, given the track record of this series in recent times, these kinds of results are no longer that surprising. Neither was the £8400 paid for the Sherriff’s Bowmore 8-year-old pear-shaped. A stunning whisky of legendary repute which explains the serious prices people are clearly willing to pay for such a whisky. These kinds of bottles will likely never be cheaper again given their scarcity.
The Upper End of the Auction
In fact, the whole upper end of the auction was a string of examples of these kinds of serious yet unsurprising prices for remarkable bottles. The UK version of the famed Samaroli Springbank 12-year-old at £10,100 is another perfect example. As is the Jura 1964 Cadenhead Dumpy for £3300. It seems these days that any bottle of seriously perceived whisky that rarely sees the secondary market is bound to fetch a hefty four-figure sum minimum. With many increasingly entering the five-figure range – some jumping there with rather staggering speed in recent months.
Of course, it isn’t only malts that impress. Famous blended brands such as the Islay Mist also do exceptionally well whenever they turn up – the 1950s bottling at £3600 being a particularly rare and pristine example. Given the repute of these whiskies, I’d almost say this price was on the soft side but it’s probably best not to start getting into the mindset of £3600 for a bottle of whisky being cheap.
The Macallans were all as you might expect price wise, as was the 1970s Laphroaig 10-year-old at £2150. Perhaps more interesting was the Ardbeg Provenance at £2250. It has taken a slow and winding time for the Provenances to reach this price point and they do seem slightly out of kilter with the more expensive sibling Ardbeg bottlings from the late 1990s. Given the quality of the Provenance whiskies, I wonder if they aren’t going to jump up another level in price within the next six months or so?
One of the most beautiful bottles in the sale was no doubt the Old Pulteney bottled by Cadenhead in the 1960s at 85 proof. A stunning and rarely seen whisky, this one is one of a few of this bottling that have found their way to market over the past year or so which explains it’s slightly softer £1800 result. However, this is still an impressive price which demonstrates the demand for older bottlings from the famous bottlers such as Cadenhead. Especially unusual ones such as this Pulteney.
The Lagavulin Syndicate 38-year-olds are all holding well at £1550. Once the initial supply of these bottles to the market has dried up I suspect the price of this one will start to climb fairly significantly. Something of a surprise at the same price tag was the Littlemill 1964 32-year-old distillery bottling from the 1990s. No doubt the recent uptick in interest for Littlemill and other closed distilleries, in general, helped this one along its way.
Demand for older Gordon & MacPhail bottlings also appears to remain undimmed with the Talisker 1967 100 Proof and the Highland Park St Magnus fetching £1550 and £1500 respectively. These are hefty prices, but given the great filling levels, general condition of the bottles and stunning reputations of the whiskies, these seem like fair prices for these whiskies in today’s market. If you can afford to bid at these price levels I think these are no-brainer bottles to go for.
Results Around the £1,000
Other notable results around the £1000 mark were the 1966 Macallan Speymalt by Gordon & MacPhail at £1300. A strong result for this bottling and maybe a sign of higher interest in Speymalt series – an inevitability given their repute, content and the price of similarly aged official Macallans.
There was the Laphroaig 1968 Hart Brothers at £1250, the Ardbeg 1974 Signatory at £1300 and the Springbank 1979 Cadenhead white label at £1150. All of which were strong results for these particular bottlings.
Going down through the middle of the sale stand out results include the Signatory 1974 Bowmore at £825, the Glendronach 1960 23-year-old Connoisseur’s Choice at £825 and the Glen Garioch 1970 27-year-old single cask for £825. All of which are something of a climb on recent results for these bottlings.
The Lagavulin 1984 – 1995 SMWS 111.3 bottling at £800 also demonstrates just how powerful the combination of a big name distillery and a rarely seen SMWS bottle number can be. A similar whisky of that age and vintage from another bottler wouldn’t have climbed that high. Just as a 1960s bottle of Jameson Crested Ten Irish Whiskey at £725 demonstrated that demand for older Irish Whiskeys is starting to increase significantly. No doubt the surge of excellent older bottlings on the market, coupled with increased global interest and many new distilleries starting up is fuelling new collector interest.
Even in today’s market Macallan can continue to surprise. A pair of standard 1990’s 10-year-olds at £575 apiece seems eye-wateringly daft. Especially when there’s a Highland Park 1973 SMWS 4.87 just beneath it for £525.
All in all, this was a strong sale with a wide spread of excellent bottles – quite a few of them scarcely seen in today’s secondary market. As a result, prices were pretty high across the board. Even for bottlings, you might not think much of on the face of it. For example, a 1978 21-year-old Glenlossie at £310 seems pretty steep. But this just demonstrates the breadth of the buying audience that exists around the world for good old malt whiskies these days. It doesn’t look as if things are going to change anytime soon. Until next time.
HIBIKI HARMONY 30TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION
THE HOUSE OF SUNTORY DEBUTS SPECIALLY-DESIGNED BOTTLE OF HIBIKI JAPANESE HARMONY
Artfully-designed, limited edition bottle represents both celebration and shared happiness with a kimono-inspired tabane-noshi pattern, released just in time for Christmas 2018
LONDON, UK – The House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese Whisky, has announced the release of a specially-designed bottle of Hibiki Japanese Harmony. Designed to represent both celebration and shared happiness in honour of the 30th anniversary of the Suntory Whisky Hibiki brand, the limited edition bottle will be widely available in the UK at a suggested retail price of £100 (750ml) as of October 29, 2018.
Inspired by a traditional kimono pattern, the bottle is embellished with the tabane-noshi, a traditional Japanese symbol of celebration that has often adorned precious gifts since ancient times. Several noshi are bundled together to make Hibiki Japanese Harmony’s tabane-noshi design, which is extremely auspicious and symbolizes shared happiness with others.
“Since the brand was first established, Hibiki has been a representation of Japanese art and design,” said Takahiro Itoga, Senior Global Brand Director at Beam Suntory. “This specially-designed bottle honours that spirit, utilising traditional Japanese symbols to create a design representing both celebration and shared happiness. The bottle in and of itself is a work of art, making it the perfect gift for Christmas.”
The Hibiki brand was introduced to the world in 1989 and since then has been embraced as the paragon of the Art of Japanese Whisky. It is not only one of Japan’s most highly awarded blended whiskies, but also among the most prestigious and honoured whiskies in the world. Introduced in 2015, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a harmonious blend blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship. Inspired by the riches and subtleties of Japan’s 24 seasons of the traditional Japanese lunar calendar and mastered by Suntory’s Art of Blending, Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a meticulous blend of the finest selection of malt and grain whiskies from the House of Suntory Whisky’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries. This delicate blend creates a oneness unfolding a full orchestra of flavours and aromas.
Available from Harrods, Selfridges, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange from 29.10.18
TASTING NOTES: HIBIKI JAPANESE HARMONY – 43% ABV
Luminous. Delicate. A transparency that unveils complexity.
Color: Amber
Nose: Rose, lychee, hint of rosemary, mature woodiness, sandalwood
Palate: Honey-like sweetness, candied orange peel, white chocolate
Finish: Subtle, tender long finish, with hint of Mizunara (Japanese oak)
ABOUT SUNTORY WHISKY
Suntory was established in 1899 and is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. Since 1923, as the pioneer of Japanese whisky, Suntory Whisky has been renowned for its House of Master Blenders and for their Art of Blending. The founding father of Japanese whisky, Shinjiro Torii, built Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki. Nestled in the outskirts of Kyoto, this region was the birthplace of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony and is known for the purity of its waters. Torii dreamt of creating an authentically Japanese whisky by choosing a terrain and climate completely different to that of Scotland, thereby cultivating unique conditions for maturation.
In 1972, Torii’s son Keizo Saji, Suntory’s second master blender, built the Chita grain distillery near Nagoya to produce more of their own high-quality grain whiskies. In 1973, Saji founded the Hakushu distillery amidst the deep forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Japanese Southern Alps with the goal of producing malt whiskies distinct from those made at Yamazaki. Its high altitude and lush environment are what differentiates Hakushu from other distilleries.
At each of these distilleries, a diverse array of whiskies are produced through various fermentation techniques, shapes and sizes of giant copper pot stills, and the wide variety of cask types used. Today, roughly 1,200,000 casks of whisky are quietly maturation in Suntory’s aging cellars. This tsukuriwake—variety in the making—allows for the blending opportunities that are essential to achieving the subtle, refined yet complex taste signature to Suntory Whiskies.
With respect to heritage and a commitment to innovation, third generation master Blender Shingo Torii, and grandson of Shinjiro, now leads this most highly awarded house of Japanese Whisky. The House of Suntory Whisky has been named four-time Distiller of the Year at the International Spirits Challenge in London, UK (2010, 2012, 2013, 2014).
The portfolio includes two single malt whiskies: Yamazaki – the pioneer of Japanese Single Malts, multi-layered and profound, and Hakushu – verdant, fresh, and delicately smoky; a single grain whisky: Chita—sublimely smooth, versatile and complex; and two blends: the noble blend, Hibiki – Japan’s most highly awarded blended whisky, and Suntory Whisky Toki – ideal for Japanese highballs.
whisky.suntory.com #SuntoryWhisky @SuntoryWhisky
ABOUT BEAM SUNTORY INC.
As the world’s third largest premium spirits company, Beam Suntory is Crafting the Spirits Brands that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands and Suntory whisky Kakubin, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek bourbon, Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki Japanese whiskies, Teacher’s, Laphroaig, and Bowmore Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Hornitos and Sauza tequila, EFFEN and Pinnacle vodka, Sipsmith gin, and Midori liqueur.
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and commitment to Growing for Good. Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan. For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.
