Japan's First Whisky to Achieve the Summit of the Whisky World

In 1923, Suntory's founder Shinjiro Torii began constructing Japan's first whisky distillery in Yamazaki in the outskirts of Kyoto. Known since ancient times as Minaseno and famed for its excellent water, this district became the birthplace of Japanese whisky.
In 1929, Suntory introduced Suntory Shirofuda (Japanese for white label), Japan's first genuine domestically produced whisky. KAKUBIN (square bottle), a premium Japanese whisky, was born in 1937.
In 1973, Suntory built another distillery in Hakushu at the foot of Mt. Kaikomagatake in the Southern Japan Alps. It developed an unparalleled variety of malt whiskies and highly refined techniques in these two utopias of whisky, and brought to market such products as YAMAZAKI single malt whisky, HAKUSHU and HIBIKI, Suntory's flagship blended whisky.
Following these achievements, Suntory worked even harder in pursuit of yet higher quality. In 2003, YAMAZAKI 12 Years captured a Gold Award at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), one of the world's most authoritative international liquor competitions. A year later in 2004, HIBIKI 30 Years won the Trophy, the highest award in the Challenge. And in 2005, YAMAZAKI 18 Years capped off these accomplishments by winning a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SWSC). As suggested by these awards, all historical firsts for Japanese whiskies, Suntory's technological capabilities have earned worldwide acknowledgement and appreciation. In 2006, HAKUSHU 18 Years also captured a Gold Award at the ISC.

Introducing a Succession of New Possibilities Offered by Western Liquors

At the time of Suntory's founding, Western liquors such as whisky, gin, vodka, brandy and liqueur were virtually unknown in Japan. As the pioneer of Japan's Western liquor market, Suntory started producing a wide variety of spirits and liqueurs in addition to whisky, opening up new worlds of enjoyment and communication. Suntory has maintained this policy of suggesting lifestyle designs and introducing the new tastes and pleasures of Western liquors through each new era since. When interest in Western lifestyles intensified in the postwar years, for example, we built a nationwide chain of Torys Bars and began publishing Youshu Tengoku (Western liquor heaven), a PR magazine featuring innovative advertising and suggestions concerning various new drinking styles to introduce casual enjoyment of Western liquors into everyday life.
Today, we are closely monitoring and responding to customer trends in an effort to activate the Western liquor market. Since the Japanese economy began its gradual recovery, we have noted an increase in consumer demand for premium goods and have responded with intensified activities aimed at stimulating demand for premium whiskies such as HIBIKI, the top Suntory blended whisky brand, and YAMAZAKI, a Suntory product recognized worldwide as the leading Japanese single malt whisky, as well as for such single malt Scotch whiskies as The MACALLAN and BOWMORE. At the same time, we are promoting KAKUBIN and The OLD among baby-boomers, especially, as "inexpensive whiskies to enjoy at home" by suggesting tasty ways of serving them in drinks such as highballs in order to stimulate whisky sales.
As concerns liqueurs, we are striving to enhance demand by communicating the attractions of cocktails made with such liqueurs as LEJAY, KAHLÚA and CAMPARI that can be enjoyed not only in bars but also at home. Making the most of the Suntory Group's distinctive comprehensive R&D capabilities, we continue to pursue development of new products that respond to customers' tastes and needs with the aim of expanding the market.

Bringing the World's Most Celebrated Spirits to Japan

Wherever you go in the world, you will find superb spirits of deserved renown. Determined to introduce the distinctive aromas and flavors cultivated in the climates and traditions of other nations to Japan, Suntory was quick to establish ties with exemplary beverage makers around the world, and to build a business as the most capable distributor in the Japanese market. Currently partnered with over 40 companies, we distribute more than 70 brands of imported Western spirits.
These include such whisky brands as BALLANTINE'S, JACK DANIEL'S, EARLY TIMES and CANADIAN CLUB. We also import The MACALLAN, BOWMORE and GLENFIDDICH single malt whiskies, which are becoming increasingly popular today, and such beloved liqueurs and spirits of the world as LEJAY, KAHLÚA, CAMPARI, MALIBU, PARAISO, GRAND MARNIER, BEEFEATER, SKYY and SAUZA. Through these activities, we give our customers in Japan an opportunity to share the enjoyment of a wide range of esteemed beverages with the citizens of countries around the world.