Suntory

Who or what is Suntory? Suntory is a Japanese drinks and spirits group that now operates on a multinational scale. Suntory was founded in 1899, making it one of the oldest companies of its kind in Japan. Suntory also plays a key role in Japan's whisky history. Founder Shinjirō Torii built the now world-famous Yamazaki Distillery back in 1923 and produced the first Japanese single malt whisky there. The distillery manager was whisky expert Masataka Taketsuru, who had previously learnt the whisky trade in Scotland. They later parted ways and Taketsuru founded the Nikka Whisky Group, which is now Suntory's biggest competitor on the Japanese whisky market. Yamazaki is mainly responsible for the enormous success of Japanese whisky. After a Yamazaki Sherry Cask was named the best single malt whisky (ahead of the Scotch) in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible in 2015, the demand for Japanese whisky exploded. A year earlier, Suntory had acquired Jim Beam and renamed itself Beam Suntory. In addition to Yamazaki, Suntory also owns the Hakushu Distillery, where the excellent Hakushu single malt whisky is produced. The Chita Distillery produces the Chita Single Grain Whisky. Popular Japanese blended whiskies from Suntory areHibiki and Toki Whisky.