Suntory Time: Japanese Whisky Coming to America

by Noah Joseph (RSS feed)
Aug 14th 2009 at 8:05AM

If you watched Bill Murray and Scarlet Johansson in the travel film Lost in Translation, the name Suntory may ring a bell. It's the Japanese whisky which Murray's character was promoting on a trip to Japan, but now it's the whisky that's reciprocating by making the trans-Pacific voyage to American shores. Previously unavailable in the United States, the Japanese distillery has announced plans to import its coveted Hibiki 12 whisky (pictured at right) to the American market. Priced at around $60, the Hibiki 12 is an 86-proof blend of whiskies ranging from 12 years to 30 years old, filtered in bamboo charcoal.

Around the same time, Suntory is also launching a special-edition Yamazaki 1984, a 96-proof blend of some 30 whiskies selling for around $600 to celebrate the brand's 25th anniversary – although the distillery itself was actually founded in 1899. Suntory whiskies are considered some of the world's best and have even been awarded top honors by several prestigious whisky tasting authorities, and should find a welcoming market in the United States. Thanks to Ben for the tip!

[Source: Cigar Afficionado]

Tags: hibiki, japanese whisky, JapaneseWhisky, scotch, suntory, suntory hibiki, suntory yamazaki, SuntoryHibiki, SuntoryYamazaki, whiskey, whisky, yamazaki

Filed under: Spirits

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Japanese Whisky Aug 14th 2009 10:55PM

The Yamazaki distillery is actually a little bit younger than you say here. It was built in 1923 and came on line in 1924. Suntory the company has been around since the period you are talking about but they were mainly known for making sweetened wines earlier on. The Yamazaki 1984 is a single malt whisky: very expensive but superb.
Nonjatta did a review of it:
http://nonjatta.blogspot.com/2009/07/masterpiece-1984.html

Kevin Kadow Aug 17th 2009 12:45AM

I picked up a bottle of Hibiki 17 in Tokyo last fall, maybe once I find a retailer nearby selling Suntory whisky I can finish the bottle with fewer regrets.

Michael [OpenKyoto] Nov 9th 2009 7:22AM

Hibiki is some excellent whisky, that is for sure!

Actually, the distillery was founded in 1923, not 1899. The 1899 date, I think, is the year that the company that become Suntory was founded.

I toured this distillery last week and it was excellent and the tasting selection and whisky library were great. If you are visiting Kyoto or Osaka, I highly recommend visiting Yamazaki. Leave yourself some time to see the bamboo forests in the mountains surrounding the distillery and the nearby temple, shrine and art museum. I was told that the bamboo forest effects the taste of the whisky as the water that is used percolates down through the bamboo.

http://openkyoto.com/sightseeing/suntory-yamazaki-distillery-1.html

One thing, though Japan might not sound like the place to make incredible whisky, the Japanese are real craftsmen and they are doing with whisky what they did with cameras, cars, fax machines and etc. Look for some incredible whiskies emanating from this country for a long time to come!