No.8874   2004. 8. 24

A New Way to Enjoy Single Malt Whisky: Suntory Single Malt Whiskies Vintage Malt Series 16 types: Newly Released
Commemorate Your Special Years and Days With Vintage Malt 1979-1994

Suntory Co. Ltd (Head Office: Osaka City, Japan / President: Nobutada Saji) newly released Suntory Single Malt Whiskies “Vintage Malt” series. This series features 16 types of varying whiskies distilled in Yamazaki Distillery and Hakushu Distillery each year from 1979 to 1994.

Single malt whiskies’ market has grown immensely both in Japan and internationally in recent years. As they are produced diversely by different brewers and at different places the varieties in single malt whiskies attract whisky fans.

The “Suntory Vintage Malt” series features single malt whiskies selected for its distinctiveness from various whiskies distilled at Yamazaki Distillery and Hakushu Distillery. It is composed of 16 different types responding to the year of each distillation from 1979 to 1994. Each of them has unique characteristics in color, aroma, taste and aftertaste. Suntory also released the assorted packages of all 16 types on sale.

• Choice Vintage Malt Whiskies from Two Distilleries

Suntory Yamazaki Distillery (Mishima-gun, Osaka) is the first distillery in Japan, having eighty years of history since the opening in 1923. It is described as the birthplace for Japanese whiskies. It is a distinctive distillery complex in the world, known for utilizing different fermenters and distillation stills to produce varieties of malt whiskies. The malt whiskies produced at this distillery is said to suit the naive tastes of Japanese people with their balanced maturities and rich aroma.

Last year, Suntory single malt whisky “Yamazaki Twelve Years” won the Grand Prize at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), and this was the first time a Japanese entry has won the best prize. As it has become internationally recognized, the whisky, often called as the best of Japanese single malt, has been exported overseas in growing numbers, including England and America, and enjoyed by many whisky lovers around the world.

The second biggest Suntory distillery, Hakushu Distillery (Hokkyoma-gun, Yamanashi) had its 30th anniversary last year. Unproceeded whiskies used in Hakushu are different from Yamazaki malt, having fresher tastes and aromas because of their traditional production methods using top-yeast, wooden pails and direct-fired distillation.

The key factor in Suntory whiskies is that they are produced in different methods in these two distilleries to create diversities in malt whiskies. By combining different mother liquors, fermenters, distillation stills, types of woods and shapes of casks, Suntory produces more than a hundred types of malt whiskies- varieties hardly seen in the world.

• Enjoying Vintage Malt

The making of whiskies takes very long time. Whiskies are stored in the casks at distillery for long time, as for maturization and slowly changes into golden-brown color and a smooth taste as times passes. Such slow changes into maturity can be reflected in everyday lives of people. With precious memories and anniversaries at hearts, one can appreciate “Vintage Malt” feelingly. Suntory hopes customers can enjoy the whiskies as they reflect their precious moments of Coming-of-Age Day, starting out in real life, engagements and weddings with the loved ones, the growths of children and inauguration and anniversaries of enterprises.

▼ Release Date and Sales Region
　 Tuesday, October 19th, 2004 Japan nationwide
　 * This is a limited sale in amounts. Stocks while it lasts.

▼ Volume, Alcohol Percentage, Packaging
　 700ml     56%     6 bottles per case

▼ Further Information
　 http://www.suntory.co.jp/whisky/vintagemalt/

▽ For more information:
　 Suntory Customer Center Toll free number: 0120-139-310
　 (Osaka) Dojimahama 2-1-40, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-8203, Japan
　 (Tokyo) Moto-Akasaka 1-2-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo 107-8430, Japan
　 Suntory HP: http://www.suntory.co.jp/