Those words were boldly proclaimed by Shinjiro Torii, founder of House of Suntory and its firstgeneration master blender. And it is from this fearless vision that the company blossomed from an esteemed Japanese distillery to a globally renowned brand with a comprehensive and highly regarded repertoire of spirits.
According to his grandson and third-generation master blender Shigo Torii, the elder distiller was guided by two Japanese principles. Kotobuki, which wishes happiness upon all, and Yatte Minahare, a rallying cry that invokes courage, which inspired him and his associates to challenge themselves and dream big. With these founding philosophies, he hoisted the Japanese flag proudly in the fiercely competitive arena of spirits.
Necessity is credited as the mother of invention. But as Torii has shown, sometimes, dreams precede necessity. In his quest to make a new kind of whisky, he centred Japan as a new fount for whisky: “an original whisky, blessed by Japanese nature and craftsmanship”, that his son, second-generation master blender Keizo Saji and thereafter, grandson, third-generation master blender Shingo Torii, would inherit and protect.
The Suntory whiskies of today—Yamazaki, Hakushu, Chita, Toki and Kakubin—are part of an expansive range that account for over 100 types of malt whisky, all of which reflect their founder’s philosophy of fusing nature and craftsmanship in a manner unique to Japan.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
BREAKING DOWN WALLS
Georgina Atkinson, managing partner of Origin Private Office, on the evolving landscape of high-end real estate.
Aged Gracefully
The Benromach 50 Years Old by Gordon & MacPhail is a delicious single malt, touched by love, passion and the human hand.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
Small-scale Thinking
Architect Todd Saunders wants to change the way we approach hospitality design from the ground up.
Todd Snyder Is Exactly Where He Wants To Be
\"Our whole goal is to present product in a way that guys get it and understand it, versus 'Here's some crazy aspirational brand-you go figure it out on your own'.\"
Depp Dive Into Sauvage
Johnny Depp on music, scents and the mystique of creativity.
Time For Poetry
Pascal Raffy on his love affair with the 202-year-old house of Bovet.
One of a Kind
The incomparable Lange 1 turns 30 this year and A. Lange & Söhne marks the occasion with its trademark understatement.
P For Personality
Enhance your swing, and inject your personal style while you're at it, with TaylorMade's new P-770 and P-7CB irons.
The Short-hop-adventure-craft Category Takes Off
Inside the flight deck of Pivotal's Blackfly eVTOL, an ultra-smart ultra-light with eight propellers, electric propulsion and no pilot's licence required.