Suntory Global Spirits showcases authentic Japanese Whisky at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington, D.C.
Suntory Global Spirits showcases authentic Japanese Whisky at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington, D.C.
As global interest in Japanese Whisky continues to rise, we take pride in pioneering efforts to enhance transparency regarding what defines authentic Japanese Whisky and safeguarding the category's reputation worldwide. Since establishing Japan’s first malt whisky distillery at Yamazaki in 1923, our relentless pursuit of quality and perfection have led to our Yamazaki, Hakushu and Hibiki whiskies bringing global attention and prestige to Japanese Whisky.
The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers’ Association (JSLMA) established a formal definition for Japanese Whisky in 2021, marking a significant milestone in the industry’s commitment to authenticity. We support their dedication to strengthen regulations by advocating for these “Standards for Labeling Japanese Whisky” to be legally binding and plan to roll out their new Japanese Whisky logo on our House of Suntory products early next year.
This initiative aims to clarify labeling standards concerning the manufacturing process and quality of Japanese Whisky. To qualify as authentic, the whiskies must use Japanese water, be aged in Japan in wooden casks for a minimum of three years, and bottling must take place in Japan. Learn more on the standards here.
Japanese Whisky Tasting at Financial Times Weekend Festival
On May 10, we had the opportunity to showcase our incredible House of Suntory Japanese Whisky at the Financial Times Weekend Festival in Washington, D.C. We hosted two engaging tasting sessions featuring Toki Japanese Whisky, Hibiki Japanese Harmony and Yamazaki 12 Year Old. House of Suntory Global Advocacy Manager James Bowker led the tastings and shared compelling stories about Suntory’s rich history as the founding house of Japanese Whisky.
Our President of The House of Suntory Masaki 'Mory' Morimoto then spoke with Angela Mackay, Managing Director Asia Pacific and Global Publisher of FT Live, to discuss how the company is driving business growth in key markets and leveraging our dedication to sustainable production practices like water conservation to meet our ambition to become the World’s Most Admired Premium Spirits Company. He also spoke about Suntory’s family legacy as a distinct marker of our heritage and monozukuri craftsmanship, with the recent appointment of Nobuhiro Torii — the great-grandson of Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii — as President of Suntory Holdings.
Looking ahead, we believe that through collaboration with the JSLMA and our commitment to delivering the highest quality products, the legacy of Japanese Whisky will not only endure but flourish on the global stage.