suntory whisky

Suntory whisky timeline:

  • 1899 – Founded by Shinjiro Torii. Suntory originally sold imported wines
  • 1907 – The company starts to sell Akadama port wine
  • 1921 – Suntory changed their name to the Kotobukiya company
  • 1923 – Torii built the Yamazaki distillery (with the help of Masataka Taketsuru)
  • 1929 – The very first Japanese single malt whisky was produced and sold, ‘Suntory Whisky Shirofuda (White Label)’
  • 1939 -1945 – The second world war caused shortages which stopped new products from development
  • 1946 -Torys Whisky is re-released
  • 1960 – Suntory Royal whisky is launched for Suntory’s 60th anniversary
  • 1961 – Suntory is the first Japanese whisky to be approved for registration in the United States
  • 1964 – Suntory Red Whisky is released
  • 1989 – Suntory Hibiki is released to celebrate the company’s 90 anniversary
  • 1994 – Suntory Single Malt Whisky Hakushu is released
  • 2010 – Suntory wins international ‘Whisky Distiller of the Year’, the first Japanese company to do so
know-your-suntory-whisky

Know your Suntory whisky

Yamazaki Whisky

Based on the outskirts of Japanese old imperial capatial, Kyoto, Yamazaki was Suntory’s first distillery. Unsurprisingly, Yamazaki Single Malt is Suntory’s flagship whisky and the most popular whisky in Japan today. There are three age statement expressions in the Yamazaki range: 12, 18 and 25.

Hibiki Whisky

Hibiki 17


‘Hibiki’, beautifully translates as ‘resonance’ or ‘echo’. Hibiki whisky was originally released in 1989, with two age statements, 17 and 21. Two more age statements have followed since, including a 30 year expression in 1997 and a 12 year expression in 2009.

Hibiki is blended with numerous grain and malt whiskies. It is an exemplary product of Japanese whisky making. Hibiki whisky is one of the most famous Japanese whiskies and has won multiple awards around the world.

Hakushu

Hakushu whisky is made in the forest at the foot of mt. Kaikomagatake. Its green bottle colour creates such idyllic imagery of crisp, Japanese mountain air. There are two age statement expression available, 12 and 18 years old. If fresh and clean is your scene, this is your kind of whisky.

Hakushu 12 years olds has a Basil, pine needle, green apple nose, a pear, mint and kiwi palate with a green tea and slightly smoky finish.

For bolder taste and smell, the Hakushu 18 years old has a pear, dried mint and oregano nose, a jasmine, mango, quince and menthol palate with a long, smoky finish.

Toki

Suntory Toki is the latest addition to the Suntory family. Japan is a culture of contradictions. Many who visit note how beautifully the old traditions contrast and complement with the connotations of futuristic technology. And that’s what this whisky aims to do. ‘Toki’, meaning ‘time’ harmonizes both the heritage and innovation of Suntory. Clear gold in colour, a delicate grape and grapefruit taste, with a sweet, spicy finish.