No.9124   2005. 5. 12

Suntory Yamazaki 18 Years Old Takes Double Gold Award at San Francisco World Spirits Competition
- ‘Hibiki 17 Years Old,’ ‘Juhyo Special’ Earn Gold as Three Suntory Products Awarded -

Suntory Limited is pleased to announce that “Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 18 Years Old” has received the Double Gold award in the Brown Spirits division of the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. “Suntory Whisky Hibiki 17 Years Old” earned the Gold award in the same category, while “Juhyo Special shochu” has taken the Gold in the Liqueurs and Other division.

The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is a premier international spirits contest, sponsored by the US alcoholic beverage industry periodical “Bon Appetit” and others. It is the largest such competition in the US and puts entries through a rigorous appraisal process with blind tasting by journalists and buyers from hotels, restaurants and major retailers. Members of the alcoholic beverage industry closely watch results each year from the event, along with those from the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) and the International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) in the UK.
In its fifth running, this year's competition attracted 589 entries from 43 countries. Judges appraised the entries in five categories: White Spirits, Brown Spirits, Scotch, Brandy, and Liqueurs and other.

Whiskies other than Scotch went into the Brown Spirits division, in which Double Gold, Gold, Silver and Bronze awards were given to the entries from many nations. “Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 18 Years Old” received the Double Gold award, the highest honor in the division and the first such award for a Japanese whisky. In addition, “Hibiki 17 Years Old,” a best-selling among Suntory's blended whiskies, took a Gold award.

These twin awards serve as recognition of the high quality of the unblended malts from the Yamazaki Distillery, one of Japan's leading whisky producers, and testimony to Suntory's expertise at creating a rich selection of unique unblended whiskies and blending them into mellow tasting libations.s

Elsewhere, in the Liqueurs and Other division, “Juhyo Special” became Japan's first shochu to win a Gold award at the competition. “Juhyo” is a long-selling brand of shochu that has won the patronage of many types of customers. Juhyo Special is a version created for the US market, where it has become a popular order at Japanese restaurant bars since its launch in 2003.

Suntory's prize-winning products
•Yamazaki 18 Years Old
This single malt whisky comes from carefully selected Yamazaki Distillery malt aged at least 18 years and vatted. The product is characterized by a mature, aromatically sweet nose, a delicate sweetness that comes from its storage in sherry casks, a strong and hearty woodiness and a deep and long-lasting aftertaste in which varied flavors reverberate.
Since sales began in the US in July 2004, it has become known as an excellent example of a Japanese single malt.

•Hibiki 17 Years Old
Thirty malt whiskies are carefully selected that are at least 17 years old and blended with grain whiskies that have similarly been fully matured for at least 17 years. This premium whisky offers a sweet and flowery nose with a deep, refined taste, forming an exquisite harmony.

•Juhyo Special
Juhyo Special is the refreshing shochu using 100% grain ingredients. Designed to be easy-to-drink and always as fresh as the first time, it has a flowery, rich smell. The “Clear Bottle” in which it is packed conveys the image of the shochu's refreshing taste.

— Details —

▼Competition name
San Francisco World Spirits Competition

▼ Location
San Francisco, USA

▼Judging and announcement of results
March 12 - 13, 2005 Judging
Late March, 2005 Results announced on competition's web site

▼Division, award name, product awarded

Brown Spirits Division: Double Gold
“Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki 18 Years Old”

Brown Spirits Division: Gold
“Suntory Whisky Hibiki 17 Years Old”

Liqueurs and Other Division: Gold
“Suntory Juhyo Special”

*Any prices given here do not prevent retail shops from setting their own shelf prices.

▽ Further information:
　Suntory Ltd.
　(Osaka) TEL: 06-6346-0835
　Dojimahama 2-1-40, Kita-ku, Osaka, 530-8203, Japan
　(Tokyo) TEL: 03-5579-1150
　Daiba 2-3-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo 135-8631, Japan
　Suntory HP:http://www.suntory.co.jp/