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Release Notes
Ireland. Scotland. America. Canada. Japan. The world’s most prestigious whisky regions, each with its unique history and climate, reveal their personality traits through our remarkable Ao world blended whisky. A blend that after nearly a century of challenges and triumphs, you can taste today.
Unlike our other blends that find harmony by unifying individual whisky personalities, Suntory World Whisky Ao achieves harmony at its base while layering and highlighting a multitude of characteristics. The result offers aromas and flavors that change and evolve, depending on when and how you drink it. However you choose to enjoy Ao Whisky, we invite you to experience it today.
Distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu, Cooley, Jim Beam Clermont, Alberta, Ardmore, Glen Garioch.
Unlike our other blends that find harmony by unifying individual whisky personalities, Suntory World Whisky Ao achieves harmony at its base while layering and highlighting a multitude of characteristics. The result offers aromas and flavors that change and evolve, depending on when and how you drink it. However you choose to enjoy Ao Whisky, we invite you to experience it today.
Distilleries: Yamazaki, Hakushu, Cooley, Jim Beam Clermont, Alberta, Ardmore, Glen Garioch.
Suntory
3rd Party Tasting Notes
Color: Amber
Nose: Profound, vanilla and pineapple-like fruitiness on top, a creamy sweetness and depth with a lingering wood aroma.
Palate: Smooth and sweet mouthfeel, gradually followed with smokiness and cinnamon-like spiciness.
Finish: Multi-layered complexity, sweet and smoky, spicy and woody.
Nose: Profound, vanilla and pineapple-like fruitiness on top, a creamy sweetness and depth with a lingering wood aroma.
Palate: Smooth and sweet mouthfeel, gradually followed with smokiness and cinnamon-like spiciness.
Finish: Multi-layered complexity, sweet and smoky, spicy and woody.
Suntory
The Distillery: Yamazaki
| Established: 1923 |
| Silent since: False |
| Address: 5-2-1 Yamazaki, Shimamoto-cho, Mishima-gun, Osaka, Japan |
| → website |
Yamazaki Distillery is a Japanese whisky distillery located in Shimamoto, Osaka, owned by Suntory. It was opened in 1923 and was Japan"s first whisky distillery. Seven thousand bottles of unblended malt whisky are on display in the "Whisky Library".
In 2003 Yamazaki 12-year-old whisky won a gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC), the world"s most prestigious spirits competition. Highly praised for its "noble" aroma, it was the first time that a Japanese whisky had been awarded a gold medal at the ISC. Behind this great achievement stood an amazing array of malt whiskies made possible by the major overhaul of the Yamazaki distillery in 1989. As the Yamazaki brand whiskies continued to garner high acclaim at international competitions, Shingo Torii reached a major turning point back at the distillery. He switched to small pot stills in 2006 in order to produce a variety of high quality straight malts with a depth and richness that could withstand a long period of aging. Entering the stillhouse today the visitor"s eye is met with an incredible array of 12 pot stills, six of them in various different shapes and sizes. It"s a one-stop flavour shop that puts the Yamazaki distillery in a league of its own. The Yamazaki distillery continues to evolve by incorporating both old and new, dedicating today to the flavours of tomorrow. This is the Yamazaki tradition.
In 1923, Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Suntory and "father of Japanese whisky," built Japan"s first whisky distillery in the vale of Yamazaki. Back then whisky was unfamiliar to most people in Japan except for a wealthy few who could afford the privilege of enjoying expensive imported products. Working against all odds the distillery employees devoted every moment to improving the quality of Yamazaki single malt whisky. Before long the Yamazaki distillery was successfully producing a number of high quality blended whiskies along with Yamazaki single malt whisky, one of the finest single malts in the world. It stands as a shrine among Japanese whisky distilleries, a place that embodies the soul of Japanese whisky itself.
Beginning - Present - Yamazaki Still Life: A Portrait of Change
Today, Suntory Yamazaki is the most popular single malt whisky in Japan and is enjoyed by whiskey connoisseurs the world over. Suntory Yamazaki is currently exported to more than 25 countries, including the United States.
The Oldest Whisky Distillery in Japan
In 1923, Shinjiro Torii, the founder of Suntory and the father of Japanese whisky, built Japan"s first malt whisky distillery in the Vale of Yamazaki. Using copper pot stills, the Yamazaki distillery was the first of its kind outside of Scotland.
The distillery"s location on the outskirts of Japan"s ancient capital of Kyoto offered pure waters, diversity of climate and high humidity-the ideal environment for the maturation of good whisky.
Since the launch of Suntory Shirofuda (White Label), Japan"s first genuine whisky, the Yamazaki distillery has been producing a wide range of superb Japanese whiskies. Japanese cuisine is characterized by a delicate yet complex interchange of flavours. This delicate balance underscores the Japanese taste for a subtle rather than distinctive flavour. This is the underlying reason behind Yamazaki"s pursuit for a single malt that was rich but not too smoky. Despite some bumps in the road along the way the distillery eventually sparked a whisky boom in Japan. It has made ceaseless efforts to enhance the craftsmanship that goes into producing a variety of flavours while responding to the changing tastes and needs of Japanese consumers, whose diet has become more international and diverse. Today the Yamazaki distillery continues to evolve along with its Yamazaki malt.
Young Shinjiro - The Man Who Learned the Wonder of Aging
Yamazaki single malts began making a big splash in the 1990"s. It was the beginning of a golden age for premium whiskies. Suntory released two varieties of single malt whisky, Yamazaki 18-year-old in 1992 and Yamazaki 10-year-old in 1995. In 1998, the year marking its centennial anniversary, Suntory introduced Yamazaki 25-year-old, a premium single malt whisky crafted from carefully selected key malts. Yamazaki 50-year-old was released in 2005. Selling for one million yen a bottle, it was the highest priced single malt whisky in Japan. All these magnificent whiskies have put the Yamazaki brand squarely in the spotlight. This feat could never have been achieved without Suntory"s inventive approach to making whisky. For over a century that spirit of innovation has been passed down from generation to generation, beginning with Shinjiro Torii to Keizo Saji. Now a new chapter in the history of Yamazaki is beginning to unfold as the torch is once again passed to the third generation master blender, Shingo Torii.
Into the Future - A Tradition of Innovation
Keizo Saji anticipated that the market would develop a taste for premium whisky made from high quality malt and aged over a long period of time. Back then the global market for single malts catered to only a handful of whisky connoisseurs. Keizo was convinced that once the Japanese public had tasted a beautifully layered, fine, aromatic malt whisky, it would be love at first sip. His search for this ideal single malt focused on a delicate taste that was more Japanese than Scotch. Using only the finest, carefully selected single malts available at the Yamazaki distillery, Keizo finally succeeded in making a richly-layered single malt that yielded a complex bouquet and a playful medley of flavours. In 1984 Yamazaki single malt whisky was released. It was fruit borne of fine craftsmanship whose roots stretched back over 60 years.
1989 - A Never-ending Quest for Perfection
Yamazaki single malt with its distinctive Japanese flavour and elegance hit the spot with a growing number of whisky drinkers. Although confident of the craftsmanship and flavour that went into every bottle of Yamazaki single malt, Keizo continued working to make it better. Never complacent with the status quo, he decided to invest in a major renovation of the Yamazaki distillery. After almost two years of renovation work, the distillery was back in operation in 1989, just in time for Suntory"s 90th anniversary. Now outfitted with both wooden and stainless steel wash backs as well as directly and indirectly heated stills, the new distillery was better equipped to make a wider range of single malt whiskies. It was the foundation upon which later success would be built.
1990 - Present - A New Era for Whisky
At the age of 13 Shinjiro Torii began working for a pharmaceutical wholesaler that also imported liquor. He developed a special knack for blending Oriental herbal medicine as well as Western drugs and a keen sensibility for distinguishing the differences among Western liquors, including whiskies. His passion for whisky continued to grow and in 1899 the enterprising 20 year-old Shinjiro established the Torii Shoten canned goods and wine import shop. It was the beginning of what would become the vast enterprise we know today as Suntory. The story goes that one day Shinjiro poured spirits into an old wine cask and then forgot about it. After several years had passed, he tasted the spirits and discovered that it had a wonderfully rich flavour. Thrilled with his discovery of the wonders of the aging process, he decided to embark on a career in making whisky. Brushing aside the objections of friends and family he set off to lay the foundation of the Japanese whisky industry.
1970 - 1984 - The Arrival of Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky
Rapid economic growth in the 1970"s raised the standard of living in Japan across the board. Whisky consumption soared as the drink began popping up on menus at sushi bars and other restaurants across the country. Not only was it the dawning of a new era that witnessed the emergence of changing lifestyles, it was a crossroads for the Yamazaki distillery. Keizo Saji, Shinjiro"s second son had taken over the reigns of the company and began looking down the road ahead. He believed that along with the country"s new found affluence would come a desire to lead fuller, richer lives and with that began a search for more unique value-added whiskies. He found himself at a turning point. At a time when the mainstream was blended whiskies, he arrived at the bold decision of introducing single malt whiskies into the market.
1984 - The Refined Taste of Yamazaki
from Wikipedia, Yamazaki
The Owner: Suntory
| Established: 1899 |
| Silent since: False |
| Address: Daiba 2-3-3, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 135-8631, Japan |
| → website |
In 2003, Suntory acquired a 98.5% equity holding in Florigene. Prior to this, Florigene had been a subsidiary of global agrochemicals giant Nufarm Limited since 1999. In July 2004, Suntory and Florigene scientists announced to the world the development of the first roses containing blue pigment, an important step toward the creation of a truly blue colored rose.
On April 1, 2009, Suntory became a stockholding company named "Suntory Holdings Limited and established "Suntory Beverage and Food Limited", "Suntory Products Limited", "Suntory Wellness Limited ", "Suntory Liquors Limited", "Suntory Beer & Spirits Limited", "Suntory Wine International Limited", and "Suntory Business Expert Limited".
From the early 1990s, Suntory has collaborated extensively with Melbourne biotechnology firm Florigene to genetically engineer the world"s first true blue rose, a symbol often associated with the impossible or unattainable. In 1991, the team won the intense global race to isolate the gene responsible for blue flowers, and has since developed a range of genetically modified flowers expressing colors in the blue spectrum, as well as a number of other breakthroughs extending the vase life of cut flowers.
Suntory was started by Torii Shinjiro, who first opened his store Torii Shoten in Osaka on February 1, 1899, to sell imported wines. In 1907, the store began selling a sweet tasting red wine called Akadama Port Wine. The store became the Kotobukiya company in 1921 to further expand its business. In December 1924, Yamazaki Distillery, the first Japanese whisky distillery, began its production of malt whisky. Five years later Suntory Whisky Sirofuda (White Label), the first single malt whisky made in Japan, was sold.
Due to wartime shortage of World War II, Kotobukiya was briefly forced to halt its development of new products. In 1961, Kotobukiya launched the famous "Drink Tory"s (Whisky) and Go to Hawaii" campaign. At the time, a trip abroad was considered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. In 1963, Kotobukiya changed its name to "Suntory", taken from the name of the famous whisky it produces. In the same year, Musashino Beer Factory began its production of the Suntory Beer. In 1997, the company became Japan"s sole bottler, distributor, and licensee of Pepsi products.
Suntory is a Japanese brewing and distilling company group. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Japan. Its business has expanded to other fields, and the company now offers everything from soft drinks to sandwich chains. Suntory is headquartered in Dojimahama Nichome, Kita-ku, Osaka, Osaka prefecture.
Trivia:
- On July 14, 2009, Kirin announced that it is negotiating with Suntory on a merger. On February 8, 2010, it was announced that negotations between the two were terminated.
- Suntory was one of the first Asian companies to specifically employ American celebrities to market their product. One of the most notable is Sammy Davis, Jr., who appeared in a series of memorable Suntory commercials in the early 1970s. In the late 1970s, Akira Kurosawa directed a famous series of commercials featuring American celebrities on the set of his film Kagemusha. One of these featured Francis Ford Coppola (an executive producer of the film), which later inspired his daughter Sofia Coppola in her writing of Lost in Translation, a film which focuses on an American actor filming a Suntory commercial in Tokyo.
- Suntory operates two museums, the Suntory Museum of Art in Tokyo and the Suntory Museum Tempozan in Osaka, in addition to a number of cultural and social programs across Japan.
- There is a top Japanese rugby club called the Suntory Sungoliath owned by the Suntory company.
from Wikipedia