SUNTORY: ONE OF THE BEST WHISKEYS IN THE WORLD IS JAPANESE

Suntory , now universally recognized as one of the world's leading companies for the production of whiskey and spirits , was born in 1899 from the idea of the young merchant Shinjiro Torii to create typically Japanese alcoholic beverages.

A selection of Suntory whiskeys from our e-SHOP

During the Meiji era, a period of rapid modernization during which Japan looked towards the West, Shinjiro began to take an interest in imported wines and spirits , studying their characteristics: their depth and cultural richness inspired him to look for something new that can be adapted to the palate of the Japanese people.

C/O Chris Bunting via Flickr

So, instead of relying on existing wines and products, he learned to blend wines to develop a new flavor profile: the result was a quality red wine called Vin du Port d'Akadama which in 1907 marked Shinjiro Torii's first success and launched Suntory's fame .
Not satisfied with wines, he dreamed of creating a subtle, refined and at the same time complex whiskey that would suit the delicate taste of the Japanese and enhance their culinary experience. To realize that dream, construction began in 1923 on the first local malt whiskey distillery in Yamazaki , on the outskirts of Kyoto, in collaboration with Masataka Taketsuru. They chose that region for its renowned fresh water, unique climate and distinct seasons, which would contribute to the development of the Japanese-style characteristics of Suntory products.

The harmony that exists between nature and people in Japan © Suntory Whiskey

In 1937, Suntory Whiskey was launched on the market , the brand's first authentic and arguably most successful Japanese whisky. Although Shinjiro is most famous for his creation, over the years he has expanded his experimentation with new flavors with the production of other liqueurs and premium spirits .
The Japanese label has also been consecrated by the annual "World Whiskey Bible" of guru Jim Murray , who since 2015 has decreed the Rising Sun's overtaking of Scotland and other producing nations, with Suntory Yamazaki whisky . This success is also the result of the balance between profound tradition, passion for quality, research with a spirit of innovation: the vision of "Growing For Good" , which has always been the philosophy of the brand

A poster for Suntory © Suntory Whiskey

A curiosity? In the famous film “Lost in Translation” by Sofia Coppola, the actor Bill Murray sips one of the Suntory whiskies, in a cameo dedicated to his father Francis Ford Coppola, who in 1979 had filmed, together with the director Akira Kurosawa, a special advertising spot for the brand Japanese spirits manufacturer.