All You Need to Know About Suntory Japanese Whisky

In the world of whisky these days, there’s no limit to the choice. While in the past the choice of this spirit drink was poor, nowadays, you can literally choose from a large selection of known and unknown distilleries from around the world. Japanese whisky these days is one of the most sought-after in the world. It has a unique production method which makes it extremely tasty, and a great example of such a popular and favoured drink these days is the Suntory.

What Is Japanese Suntory?

It’s a spirit that’s pioneered the art of Japanese whisky for many reasons. It’s a well-made and balanced drink that got its start in 1923 thanks to the founder Shinjiro Torii. The Suntory whisky was introduced to the Japanese market in 1929. Shortly after this, it became one of the most popular Japanese spirits in the whole world.

The Suntory Japanese whisky is created to perfection with commitment to quality. It uses different ways of fermentation and a diverse array of malt and grain which gives distillers the opportunity to produce more than 100 different single-malt whiskies that can be made in oak casks and copper pot stills. Followed by Nikka, Suntory is considered the largest whisky brand in Japan.

Interesting Facts about Suntory Japanese Whisky

Scotch-Inspired Whisky

Did you know that this Japanese spirit was inspired by the well-known Scotch?! Well, it’s said that in the late 1800s, Torii worked as an apprentice in a store in Osaka that specialised in selling Western-style liquors. Well, it was during that time when Torii tried a Scotch whiskey while on this job, and the taste lingered and stayed engraved in his memory, which later on was an inspiration for creating his own whisky.

It Didn’t Work at First

This certainly is one of the most popular and favoured spirits in the category, but did you know that Suntory was a bit of a failure at first?! When the whisky was released for the first time, it had a strong smoky palate, so it became strongly criticised which was why Torii started creating a lighter and fresher style of this spirit. Thanks to this quick reaction of Torii, nowadays, his spirit is one of the most popular ones around the world. It’s way lighter and tastier than his first attempt and whisky connoisseurs love it.

It Was Known Under a Different Name

Did you know that in the 1940s this spirit was known as Torii Shoten and after that as Kotobukiya?! Yup, it was known as an inexpensive brand that had a whisky that tasted amazing. It was in 1963 when the brand changed its name to Suntory which is a mix and manipulation of the Japanese words ‘san’ meaning three. It’s believed that the name comes from Torii’s three sons and ‘Tory’, the English version of Torji, the founder of this brand.

Suntory Became Successful During the War

Well, the truth is that during World War II, both Japanese and American soldiers were thirsty for this spirit which is why the sales of whisky in Japan rose from year to year. It’s said that this wartime was one of the most profitable periods in the history for Japanese whisky brands, especially for Suntory and Nikka. But even after the war, the demand for this spirit continued to grow which is the reason for the spirit’s popularity in Japan.

It’s Been Used in the Original Highball

Well, it’s said that this spirit was part of the Japanese Highball. According to the brand, it was Suntory that popularised this drink in the 1950s in its ‘Tory bars’ that were located throughout Japan.

There’s More than Just One Suntory

Nowadays, the brand produces four different whisky varieties like the Yamazaki and Hakushu which are aged in single malts, and Hibiki and Suntory Whisky Toki which are known as the brand’s blended offerings. It’s said that these days, these spirits are produced all around Japan at the brand’s Chita, Hakushu and Yamazaki distilleries.

Last but not least, you should know that this brand is also the home of some other spirits rather than just whisky. If you’re a fan of gin and vodka, you can go online and look for the brand’s tasty Roku Gin and Haku Vodka. When online, make sure to find a store that sells a range of Suntory and some other popular Japanese whisky.

They certainly are quite different from the ones you might be used to drinking, and who knows, you might be surprised by their lightness and tastiness. So, just like Bill Murray says in the “Lost in Translation” commercial for the spirit, ‘For relaxing time, make it Suntory time’, just make your order and enjoy its tastiness. Let its silky combination of malt, grain and water help you get lost in its smell and taste. Just take a sip and relax!