Suntory Yamazaki Distillery

The Yamazaki distillery is Japan's first and oldest single malt whiskey distillery, opened in 1923 by Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii.

Inspired by traditional Scotch whiskey, Torii devised a Japanese approach by choosing a completely different terrain and climate than Scotland to create a unique type of whiskey. The Yamazaki distillery is, therefore, the birthplace of Japanese whiskey. Located proudly on the outskirts of Kyoto, this region was formerly known as "Minaseno", where some of Japan's purest water comes from.

Yamazaki is also the home of Sen no Rikyu, master of the tea ceremony. The Yamazaki distillery is located where the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers meet, giving it a peculiar misty climate and one of the softest waters in Japan. The diversity of temperatures and humidity in this region creates ideal conditions for barrel aging, known as the unique "Suntory maturation."