The Yamazaki

Single Malt Japanese Whisky

by Brian Donnelly

• Parent Company: Beam Suntory

• Distillery Location: Yamazaki, Japan

• Established: 1923

• Master Blender: Shingo Torii (third-generation and great-grandson of the founder)

The Soul Place of Japanese Whisky

History

The Yamazaki Distillery, located in the Vale of Yamazaki on the outskirts of Kyoto, was founded in 1923 by Shinjiro Torii. Yamazaki was the first, oldest, and now largest whisky distillery in Japan. The Yamazaki brand is the number one selling single malt whisky in Japan.

Grain

The majority of barley needed for production is imported from the United States and Europe, but some are sourced locally.

Water

The distillery’s location was selected for its high-quality water source, which was renowned in Japan. Yamazaki is where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge, providing a unique misty climate and a source of very pure and soft water, ideal for producing whisky.

Distillation

The distillery has a total of 12 stills of varying shapes and sizes, which allows it to make the many different spirits style needed to construct the blends within the Suntory® portfolio.

Maturation

The Yamazaki Distillery uses many different casks for maturing whisky, including Ex-Bourbon, Ex-Sherry, and Japan’s native oak, called Mizunara. Mizunara was first used during World War II, which lead to a shortage of Spanish Sherry casks. Mizunara imparts very similar flavors to whisky as European oak. The term “Suntory Maturation” was given to the diversity of temperature and humidity in this region, which creates favorable conditions for maturing whisky barrels.

Shinjiro Torii (1879-1962)

Often referred to as the Founder of Japanese Whisky, Shinjiro Torii was a man with a vision. He envisioned a whisky that would reflect the best of Japanese nature and craftsmanship. Shinjiro started building Japan’s first distillery at Yamazaki, on the outskirts of Kyoto in 1923. The Yamazaki Distillery opened in 1924 amidst the bright red autumn maple leaves of Kyoto. Shinjiro was passionate in his pursuit of creating artisanal Japanese whiskies and in the experience of enjoying them. Shinjiro believed in creating a whisky culture and way (Omotenashi) unique to Japan and its people. Nicknamed the “Nose of Osaka," Shinjiro was Japan’s first master blender.

Keizo Saji (1919 – 1999)

As the second son of Shinjiro Torri, Keizo not only inherited his father’s dream but established it as a reality by building Suntory’s second distillery, Hakusu, deep in the mountain forests of Mt. Kaikomagatake in 1973. If Shinjiro is the Pioneer and Founder of Japanese Whisky, Keizo is indeed the Pioneer and Father of Japanese Single Malts. It was Keizo who first introduced the first Japanese single malt Yamazaki® in 1984 and Hakusku® in 1994.

Shingo Torii (1953 – Present)

Shinjiro Torii’s grandson and third-generation master blender, Shingo Torii, continues to push the boundaries of what a Japanese whisky can be. Under his leadership and commitment to exceptional quality, Hibiki® was launched in 1989. As the epitome of Suntory’s Art of Blending and it is now one of the most highly awarded blended whiskeys in the world. Suntory Whisky is now the most highly awarded House of Japanese Whisky.

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