Spirits · Osaka, Kansai
Suntory
The Osaka company that built Japan's first malt whisky distillery.
- Founded
- 1899
- Founded by
- Shinjiro Torii
- Based in
- Osaka, Kansai
Their story
Suntory began in 1899, when Shinjiro Torii opened a small shop in Osaka selling imported wines. Within a few years he was selling his own sweet Akadama port-style wine, and in 1923 he built Yamazaki, the first malt whisky distillery in Japan.
The company took the name Suntory from one of its whiskies in 1963. It remains privately held, controlled by the founding Torii and Saji families, and in 2025 Nobuhiro Torii, the founder's great-grandson, became president.
Today Suntory makes Japanese whiskies such as Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, Chita and Toki. Its 2014 purchase of Beam Inc. also brought bourbons like Jim Beam and Maker's Mark into the family, now under Suntory Global Spirits.
How it's made
Suntory's Japanese whiskies come from its own distilleries, starting with Yamazaki, the site Shinjiro Torii built in 1923, and Hakushu. Blends such as Hibiki and Toki combine whiskies from across the company's distilleries.
Our featured pick
The Hakushu 12yr Japanese Whisky (750ML)
$200.00
Highly regarded and a must-try for those interested in exploring Japanese whisky.From the Hakushu distillery, situated in the dark forests of Mt.
Shop Suntory
16 in stock
Why we carry them
Suntory is where most people start with Japanese whisky, and for good reason. Toki makes a crisp highball, and Yamazaki and Hibiki are worth a slow pour.
More makers like this
All makers-
10th Mountain Whiskey & Spirit Co.
Vail, Colorado
Colorado whiskey honoring the WWII ski soldiers who trained near Vail.
-
10th Street Distillery
San Jose, California
American single malt whisky, engineered in San Jose by two Silicon Valley friends.
-
1792 Distillery
Bardstown, Kentucky
Bardstown bourbon named for the year Kentucky became a state.
Find more makers like this in Provisions Club, our curated subscription.
Explore Provisions Club