Suntory Whisky Distilleries

The Yamazaki Distillery is Japan’s first and oldest malt whisky distillery established in 1923 by Suntory's founder Shinjiro Torii. Inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, Torii envisioned a Japanese approach by choosing a terrain and climate completely different to those of Scotland to create a unique kind of whisky. The Yamazaki Distillery is thus the birthplace of Japanese whisky. Nestled proudly on the periphery of Kyoto, this region was formerly referred to as "Minaseno", where one of the purest waters of Japan originates.

The Hakushu Distillery was founded half a century after Yamazaki. Keizo Saji inherited his father’s vision in his quest for innovation and constructed this second Suntory distillery in 1973. The exceptionally soft mountain water of Hakushu originates as clear-flowing rainwater and melted snow, which passes through Mt. Kaikomagatake of the Japanese Southern Alps and joins the Ojira and Jingu Rivers at the mountain foot. With four distinctive seasons, the clear air and cool, humid climate of Hakushu’s vast forests allow the distillery, one of the few situated at an elevation of 700 meters or more, to produce high-quality whisky through a slow, unhurried process.

In 1972, Keizo Saji—Suntory's second Master Blender—took a momentous step forward in pursuing Shinjiro Torii’s vision for diverse and truly Japanese whiskies blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship. On the misty, calm shores of Chita Peninsula, Keizo built a distillery dedicated to creating high quality Japanese grain whisky. Through many years of research and innovation, the Chita Distillery’s grain whiskies have achieved an unrivaled sophistication and complexity—culminating in The Chita Single Grain Whisky.

Roku Gin stands out as a different gin, one that is particularly Japanese. Its point of difference is mostly due to the precise balance between eight traditional gin botanicals and six uniquely Japanese botanicals. The Suntory Liquor Atelier is a unique distillery that creates a variety of spirits following the high standards set out by Suntory’s principles of artisanship. To maintain their renowned standards, Suntory has different kinds of distilling pots at their disposal, so that specific distillation methods may be used to extract the best flavors depending on the type of botanicals in use.

At Suntory, the artisans of the House are committed to selecting the best ingredients, and elaborating on complex and innovative making techniques to create spirits of unrivaled quality and unique Japanese character. It is the signature of the House of Suntory‘s “Monozukuri” craftsmanship. Osumi Distillery is a new iteration of that philosophy, and inherits Shinjiro Torii’s vision of challenge and quest of excellence.