Yamazaki

Lore & Background

The Yamazaki distillery is located in Shimamoto, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. Established in 1923 by Shinjirō Torii, it was the first commercial whisky distillery in Japan and is owned by Suntory. The distillery features a "Whisky Library" that displays seven thousand bottles of unblended malt whisky. The site was chosen by Torii, who hired Taketsuru Masataka as factory director in 1924. Taketsuru had studied in Scotland at Glasgow University and learned Scotch whisky production methods there. He married a Scottish woman, Jessie Roberta "Rita" Cowan, who accompanied him to Japan in 1920. The first whisky produced at Yamazaki was completed in 1929 and sold under the name shirofuda. Taketsuru left the company in 1934 due to differences with Torii and later founded his own distilling company in Hokkaidō. The distillery produces several primary variants of single malt whisky, including a Distiller's Reserve, a 12-Year-Old, an 18-Year-Old, and a 25-Year-Old. Other offerings outside the United States include 10-, 35-, and 50-year-old whiskies, as well as dated vintages such as 1980, 1984, and 1993. Puncheon and sherry cask offerings are also made. The whiskies have received favorable evaluations from spirit ratings organizations; the 18-Year-Old earned six consecutive double gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competitions between 2008 and 2013. The 25-Year-Old was named Best Japanese Single Malt at the 2013 World Whisky Awards, and the Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was awarded World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015.

Reader's Guide

Yamazaki distillery holds a foundational place in Japanese whisky history as the nation's first commercial whisky distillery. Its founding by Shinjirō Torii and the hiring of Taketsuru Masataka set the stage for Japan's whisky industry. The distillery's significance is underscored by its production of several acclaimed single malt whiskies, including the 12-Year, 18-Year, and 25-Year expressions. The 18-Year earned six consecutive double gold medals at the San Francisco Spirits Competitions between 2008 and 2013, and the 25-Year was awarded 'Best Japanese Single Malt' at the 2013 World Whisky Awards. The Yamazaki Single Malt Sherry Cask 2013 was named World Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2015. The distillery also features a 'Whisky Library' displaying seven thousand bottles of unblended malt whisky.

Did You Know?

• Seven thousand bottles of unblended malt whisky are on display in its 'Whisky Library'.
• Taketsuru Masataka, the first factory director, studied at Glasgow University and learned Scotch whisky production in Scotland.
• The Yamazaki 18-Year earned six consecutive double gold medals at the San Francisco Spirits Competitions between 2008 and 2013.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some people assume the distillery was founded by a Scotsman, but the facts show it was established by Suntory, with Taketsuru Masataka—a Japanese man who studied in Scotland—serving as its first factory director. Others may think Yamazaki’s founder married a Japanese woman, but he actually married Jessie Roberta “Rita” Cowan, a Scottish woman who moved to Japan with him in 1920.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

Yamazaki distillery endures not only as Japan’s first commercial whisky maker but as a symbol of cross-cultural craftsmanship—blending Scottish tradition with Japanese precision. Its continued success, reflected in awards like the Yamazaki 18-Year’s six consecutive double gold medals, proves that innovation rooted in historical mastery can create a lasting global legacy.