Yamazaki Whisky

The House of Suntory celebrates 100 years of whisky making this year. To mark the milestone, the brand has launched a range of centennial releases and we're delighted to say we've got them in our very own Suntory shop-in-shop, including Yamazaki, Hakushu, and Hibiki whisky! Yamazaki is the birthplace of Japanese whisky, renowned for its single malt that established Japan as a serious whisky producer. Shinjiro Torii, who founded the distillery, had already made his mark with his store Torii Shoten, which later became Suntory. Torii aimed to create Japanese whisky in 1923, choosing the Vale of Yamazaki in Osaka Prefecture for its excellent water and climate for maturation. In 1924, Yamazaki became Japan’s first whisky distillery. Torii hired Taketsuru Masataka, the "godfather of Japanese whisky," who brought whisky-making knowledge from Scotland. The first Japanese whisky, Shirofuda (White Label), was launched in 1929, but it was Kakubin (Square Bottle) in 1937 that gained popularity. During WWII, and later with the U.S. army, demand surged. Yamazaki operated as Suntory's sole whisky supplier until the Hakushu distillery opened in 1973. The first Yamazaki-branded whisky, the 12 Year Old, was released in 1984 under Torii’s son, Keizo Saji. This whisky aimed for a delicate flavour profile compared to Scotch single malts. Saji also renovated the distillery, equipping it with wooden and stainless steel washbacks and varied stills, enhancing production flexibility. The 1990s saw the release of Yamazaki 10 Year Old and 18 Year Old, furthering its reputation. Key awards, including the 2003 International Spirits Challenge Gold Medal for the Yamazaki 12 Year Old, and the 2015 Whisky Bible's World Whisky of the Year for the Yamazaki Sherry Cask 2013, boosted its status. Due to high demand, Yamazaki whisky is often scarce and expensive. In 2006, master blender Shingo Torii switched to smaller pot stills, and the distillery expanded in 2013. Yamazaki’s flexible processes, using various washbacks, stills, and casks, allow for diverse flavour profiles, aiding in blending. Yamazaki remains Japan's oldest commercial whisky distillery, offering guided tours, a museum, and a whisky library.

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