In recent years, "Japanese Whiskey" has been gaining attention year after year. In particular, Suntory's single malt whiskey "Yamazaki" is popular worldwide and continues to be in short supply. While in Japan, you may be able to taste and purchase products at the shop if you participate in a factory tour. This time, we will thoroughly explain about "Yamazaki", the representative of Japanese whiskey, and "Hakushu", which is also released from Suntory and is popular, and about the two renewed distilleries, "Suntory Yamazaki Distillery" and "Suntory Hakushu Distillery". We will also introduce the tour and recommended souvenirs of the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery. Be sure to use this article as reference!
What is Japanese Whiskey?
"Japanese Whiskey" refers to whiskey that meets several criteria, such as using only malt, grains, and water sourced in Japan as raw materials, and the manufacturing process must be "saccharification, fermentation, distillation, storage, and bottling all done within Japan". There are also detailed rules, such as storing for more than 3 years and having an alcohol content of 40 degrees or more at the time of bottling. It is considered one of the world's five major whiskeys.
Whiskey is broadly divided into two types: "Malt Whiskey", which uses only barley malt as a raw material, and "Grain Whiskey", which is made by adding barley malt to a base of wheat, rye, corn, etc. Among "Malt Whiskeys", those made only at a single distillery are classified as "Single Malt Whiskeys", and "Yamazaki" and "Hakushu" are classified as Single Malt Whiskeys.
What is "Suntory Single Malt Whiskey Yamazaki"?
Suntory has vatted a variety of malt whiskies, including "Wine Barrel Aged Malt" and "Mizunara Barrel Aged Malt," from the diverse range of malt whiskies it owns. Vatting is a term unique to malt whisky, referring to the process of blending malt whiskies, each with its own distinct character, in a large vat. The resulting whisky is characterized by a soft, fragrant aroma and a sweet, smooth taste, created by the overlapping individualities of each malt. The lineup includes Yamazaki, Yamazaki 12 years, Yamazaki 18 years, and Yamazaki 25 years.
What is "Suntory Single Malt Whisky Hakushu"?
A single malt born in a forest distillery in the Southern Japanese Alps. It is characterized by a fresh, refreshing, and crisp taste, like the young leaves of the forest. The lineup includes Hakushu, Hakushu 12 years, Hakushu 18 years, and Hakushu 25 years.
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of whiskey making, two distilleries have been renewed!
Suntory began making whiskey in 1923 and celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. To commemorate this 100th anniversary, they have renewed and reopened the "Suntory Yamazaki Distillery" in Shimamoto, Mishima District, Osaka Prefecture, and the "Suntory Hakushu Distillery" in Hakushu Town, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture. Not only the facilities inside the building but also the tours have been significantly renewed.
Renewal Points of "Suntory Yamazaki Distillery" in Shimamoto, Mishima District, Osaka Prefecture
1. Entrance
The "Suntory Yamazaki Distillery" is located in the southwest of Kyoto, at the foot of Mt. Tenno, in a region known for its pristine water. It is situated where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu rivers converge, providing a moist environment ideal for whiskey maturation. Using a variety of fermentation tanks, distillation pots, and aging barrels, they continue to produce unique whiskey spirits characteristic of Japan. In the renewal, the facility's entrance has been revamped. You can pass through a gate made from the recycled copper of the distillation pot, and feel the mystique unique to the "forest" of Yamazaki.
Furthermore, to create a "grove" that expresses harmony with nature on the premises, vegetation growing in the mountainous areas of Shimamoto Town and Oyamazaki Town in the surrounding area is planted and greened. If you go up the stairs next to the promenade in front of the Yamazaki Whiskey Museum, you will see a spread of greenery and a bamboo forest walking path.
2. Inside the Yamazaki Whiskey Museum & Tasting Lounge
The Yamazaki Whiskey Museum is a historic building located within the grounds of the Yamazaki Distillery, which has been in operation since its establishment. In this renovation, they have enhanced the exhibition on the "inheritance and innovation" of Suntory whiskey making, which has been passed down from the founder, Shinjiro Torii, as well as the differentiation of raw spirits at the Yamazaki Distillery and the development of raw spirits that can withstand long-term aging. They aim to create an exhibition that fosters a sense of anticipation for the delicious quality of Japanese whiskey in the future.
The tasting lounge, where you can enjoy various Suntory whiskey brands including the Suntory Single Malt Whiskey "Yamazaki" brand, and the original sake that can only be tasted here, has been renewed. Inside the lounge, a variety of original sake bottles made at the Yamazaki Distillery are displayed, and a bar counter made from a pot still (a type of device used in the production of distilled liquor) that was in operation at the Yamazaki Distillery has been installed. The stand tables at the bar counter are laid out facing the original sake bottles. In addition, low chairs are placed in a position overlooking the "forest" spreading out beyond the window. They have created a luxurious space where you can enjoy Japanese whiskey that can only be done here, from those who are familiar with whiskey to those who are drinking it for the first time.
3. The content of the "Yamazaki Distillery Tour" has also been renewed!
They have newly designed a tour called "Yamazaki Distillery Monozukuri Tour Prestige" (10,000 yen), where the creators themselves talk about their craftsmanship. You can also enter the manufacturing area that was not accessible in previous tours. The tour that has been held so far has been renewed as the "Yamazaki Distillery Monozukuri Tour" (3,000 yen). They have increased the types of whiskey offered during the tasting, and they will give you tasting glasses and other souvenirs so that you can enjoy whiskey at home.
Renewal Points of "Suntory Hakushu Distillery" in Hakushu Town, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture
1. Visitor Center
At the foot of the South Alps Kaikomagatake, surrounded by vast nature, the "Suntory Hakushu Distillery" continues to produce a unique raw sake that is different from the Yamazaki Distillery, not only due to natural conditions such as water and climate, but also due to differences in equipment such as fermentation tanks and distillation pots.
On the premises, there are the "Hakushu Distillery" and the "Suntory Natural Water Minami Alps Hakushu Factory", and the common gate for both, the "Visitor Center", has been renewed. A reception for indoor tours and guided tours has been set up, and a new diorama has been installed. There is also a space where you can visually understand the entire site, and the "Visitor Center Gift Shop" where you can purchase original goods from both factories.
2. Bird Sanctuary
Since its completion in 1973, the Suntory Hakushu Distillery has maintained a bird sanctuary, "Bird Sanctuary", within its premises to protect the environment that nurtures abundant nature and pure water. In this renewal, with the desire to make people feel closer to the natural environment of Hakushu, they have newly installed exhibits about Suntory's efforts and birds living in the forest at the Bird Sanctuary, as well as sound collectors where you can hear the voices of birds.
3. Central House
In the "Tasting Lounge" located in the Central House, they have created a relaxing space where you can feel the charm of "Hakushu no Mori" while looking at the forest spreading beyond the windows and covering the entire wall. Here, you can taste not only the "Hakushu" brand but also rare whiskies. In addition, the adjacent "Central House Gift Shop" offers a variety of goods unique to the Hakushu Distillery.
4. The content of the "Hakushu Distillery Tour" has also been renewed!
You can tour the distillation buildings and storage warehouses, and in the tasting that follows, you can enjoy not only the "Hakushu" brand, but also the rare "Malt Whiskey Raw Sake". There are two types of tours, the "Hakushu Distillery Manufacturing Tour" (3,000 yen) and the "Hakushu Distillery Manufacturing Tour Premium" (5,000 yen), both of which are by reservation and lottery (entry to the Whiskey Museum and Central House is also possible).
Details of the "Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Tour" where you can drink and buy the whiskey "Yamazaki"!
The paid "Suntory Yamazaki Distillery Manufacturing Tour" (80 minutes, 3,000 yen) and "Yamazaki Distillery Manufacturing Tour Prestige" (120 minutes, 10,000 yen) are available for tasting the hard-to-get Japanese whiskey "Yamazaki" and its precious raw sake. Both can be applied for from the official website.
Regarding multilingual support, one of the five daily tours of the "Yamazaki Distillery Manufacturing Tour" is conducted as an English-only tour, and guidance is provided in English using audio guides. The languages for the audio guide tour have been expanded from three (English, Chinese, French) to four (English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish). Those who wish to use it should install the app on their smartphone before visiting.
Download the app from here
What is the "Yamazaki Distillery Manufacturing Tour"?
At the Suntory Single Malt Whisky Yamazaki, you can tour the manufacturing site where it is produced and experience the unique aromas and temperatures that can only be felt there with all your senses. In the tour, first, under the guidance of the staff, the flow of the malt whisky manufacturing process is explained using videos and whisky ingredients. After that, you will tour the actual manufacturing process. In the storage warehouse, you can observe the distilled malt raw liquor and they will explain how they use various barrels for storage (maturation).
In the tasting, you can enjoy "Suntory Single Malt Whiskey Yamazaki", rare "Malt Whiskey Raw Sake", and "Yamazaki Highball". After the tour, you will receive a "Yamazaki Original Tasting Glass" as a souvenir.
- Duration: 80 minutes
- Participation fee: 3,000 yen (tax included) by lottery
What is the "Yamazaki Distillery Manufacturing Tour Prestige"?
A tour where you can visit the production site where the Suntory Single Malt Whisky "Yamazaki" brand was born, and experience the unique scents and temperatures that can only be felt there with all your senses. By visiting the manufacturing areas that can only be accessed on the Prestige Tour and observing the actual work of the craftsmen, you can learn about the dedication to craftsmanship unique to the Yamazaki Distillery. In the tasting, you can enjoy "Yamazaki 12 Years" and rare "Malt Whisky Raw Liquor". In addition, the tasting is held in the newly established guest room "The YAMAZAKI". You can further enjoy the tasting at the counter made from reused pot stills and tables and chairs made from barrel materials, enhancing the charm of Yamazaki.
- Duration 120 minutes
- Participation fee 10,000 yen (tax included) lottery system
Top 3 recommended products from the YAMAZAKI DISTILLERY GIFT SHOP at the Yamazaki Whisky Museum
1. Yamazaki Distillery Logo T-shirt 5,280 yen (tax included)
A distillery-limited T-shirt collaborated by Suntory Whiskey "Yamazaki" and designer Takeo Kikuchi. Available in two colors, black and white.
2. Yamazaki Distillery Logo Tasting Glass 800 yen (tax included)
By pouring whiskey up to the lower line in the glass and adding water up to the upper line, you can easily make a 1:1 drink and taste it like a blender. It's a great feature.
3. Barrel Smoked Nuts Price: 1,200 yen (tax included)
The smoked mixed nuts made using barrel chips from the barrels that once nurtured Suntory's whiskey. The soft aroma derived from the whiskey-soaked barrel wood and the gentle sweetness of the nuts themselves make for a delightful combination that pairs excellently with whiskey.
In 2023, they celebrated the 100th anniversary of Suntory's founder, Shinjiro Torii, starting whiskey production. You are invited to experience the history of whiskey that Suntory has woven and the charm that has been passed down through the generations!
*Even if you only want to use the tasting lounge, whiskey museum, or gift shop at the "Whiskey Museum" and "Central House" located at Suntory's Hakushu Distillery, you will need to reserve a "Whiskey Museum & Central House Admission (free)".
*Even if you only want to use the shop or tasting lounge at the "Yamazaki Whiskey Museum" located at Suntory's Yamazaki Distillery, you will need to reserve a "Whiskey Museum Tour (first come, first served, free, no manufacturing process tour)".
※Due to the fluidity of our whiskey stock, there may be times when you cannot purchase whiskey depending on the date and time of your visit and the tour course you choose.
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