Yamazaki. Where it all began in 1923.
The Yamazaki Distillery is Japan’s first and oldest malt whisky distillery established in 1923 by Suntory’s founder Shinjiro Torii.
Inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, Torii envisioned a Japanese approach by choosing a terrain and climate completely different to those of Scotland to create a unique kind of whisky. The Yamazaki Distillery is thus the birthplace of Japanese whisky. Nestled proudly on the periphery of Kyoto, this region was formerly referred to as “Minaseno”, where one of the purest waters of Japan originates.

Yamazaki is also home to Sen no Rikyu, Master of “The Way of Tea.” Yamazaki Distillery is where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers converge, providing a unique misty climate and one of Japan’s softest waters. The diversity of this region’s temperature and humidity creates ideal conditions for cask aging, known as the signature “Suntory Maturation”.

Good whisky requires good water and proper maturation in the right environment. Torii strived for a uniquely Japanese whisky to surpass Scotch whisky, and searched for a genuinely Japanese climate for years. Yamazaki lies in a misty valley between Mt.Tennozan and Mt. Otokoyama where three rivers meet. It has one of Japan’s softest waters and is ideal for whisky maturation. This choice of location has been proven by the quality of whisky produced in the Yamazaki distillers for many years.

Yamazaki Distillery is distinguished by its uniqueness that a single distillery can produce a variety of whiskies, which a very few distilleries in the world can match. It all started with Suntory’s pursuit of crafting world-class whisky to please the delicate Japanese palate. In every process of whisky making – fermentation, distillation, aging, and vatting – the distillery’s craftsmen have been adding new innovations while continuing to practice skills passed down by their predecessors.