Suntory

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Suntory Holdings

Japan's pioneering whisky house, founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii with the opening of the Yamazaki Distillery near Kyoto. Suntory is the largest and most influential Japanese whisky producer, responsible for establishing Japanese whisky as a world class category. Their range spans from the everyday Kakubin (the highball whisky of Japan, ubiquitous in izakayas and convenience stores) to the ultra premium Yamazaki and Hibiki lines that compete with the finest Scotch. The 2014 acquisition of Beam Inc. made them a global spirits giant. Suntory essentially created the culture of Japanese whisky drinking, particularly the highball (whisky and soda) boom that revitalized the domestic market in the 2000s.

Shinjiro Torii opened Japan's first genuine malt whisky distillery at Yamazaki in 1923, hiring Masataka Taketsuru (who would later found Nikka) as his first distillery manager. Torii's philosophy of "monozukuri" (the art of making things) and his pursuit of a whisky suited to the Japanese palate drove the company's identity. The Yamazaki single malt became the flagship, but Suntory's second distillery, Hakushu (opened 1973 in the Japanese Alps), expanded their palette of flavors with lighter, more herbal character. The Chita grain distillery completes the trio, providing the backbone for their blended whiskies. Suntory's cultural impact on Japan cannot be overstated. The Kakubin ("square bottle") highball, introduced in 1937, became the default after work drink for millions of Japanese salarymen. When whisky consumption declined in the 1980s and 1990s, Suntory's highball marketing campaign in the late 2000s singlehandedly revived the domestic market. The Hibiki blend, launched in 1989 to celebrate Suntory's 90th anniversary, represents the pinnacle of Japanese blending art. International recognition exploded when Yamazaki 12 won International Spirits Challenge gold medals and Jim Murray named Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 as World Whisky of the Year. Today, demand for age statement Suntory products far exceeds supply, creating a secondary market that frustrates both collectors and casual drinkers alike.

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