SUNTORY CELEBRATES ITS 100TH ANNIVERSARY WITH KEANU REEVES COLLABORATION

The House of Suntory, has announced collaborations with Academy Award-winning Director Sofia Coppola and Actor Keanu Reeves, as part of its 100th Anniversary celebrations.

The founding house of Japanese Whisky, has also announced a $77 million investment in its Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries, along with the release of exclusive 100th anniversary editions of its world-renowned whiskies.

Keanu Reeves starring in House of Suntory anniversary tribute

Twenty years after filming Lost in Translation, Sofia Coppola returned to Japan to create the Suntory Anniversary Tribute. Coppola brings her artistic genius and admiration for Suntory Whisky to life as the creative director of The Tribute that honours Suntory’s illustrious past, present and future.

The Suntory Anniversary Tribute, which features actor Keanu Reeves - a lover of Suntory whisky and who previously appeared in a Suntory Reserve ad campaign in 1992, tells the story of the brand’s heritage and whisky-making legacy over the last 100 years, depicting the meaning of “Suntory Time” through the eyes of its creator.

Later this summer, Reeves will also star in a series of short documentary films in partnership with the House of Suntory, titled: “The Nature and Spirit of Japan” directed by filmmaker Roman Coppola.

The centennial of the House of Suntory began with the establishment of its Yamazaki Distillery in 1923 - the first and oldest malt whisky distillery in Japan’s history. Its founder Shinjiro Torii’s 100-year legacy began with a dream to “create an original Japanese whisky blessed with the riches of Japanese nature and craftsmanship,” which his grandson Shingo Torii carries forth today at Yamazaki and its distilleries across Japan.

To mark its anniversary, the House of Suntory is releasing several limited-edition whiskies that highlight its unique craftsmanship and their meticulous art of blending, including Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt.

Commenting on the news, Jon Potter, Managing Director of House of Suntory, said: "As the pioneer of Japanese whisky, the House of Suntory played a significant role in shaping culture and leading craftsmanship in Japan over the last century. To mark this historic milestone, partnering with Sofia and Keanu, who are Suntory Whisky fans, makes perfect sense. From our Fifth Generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo’s striking blends to Sofia and Keanu’s unique cinematic creations, this commemoration has surpassed all expectations to celebrate our iconic Japanese whiskies.”

You can watch the Suntory Anniversary Tribute film by clicking here

 

Posted by Steve Rush

BRAVE NEW SPIRITS SUBMITS FINAL PLANNING APPLICATION FOR NEW CAMPBELTOWN DISTILLERY

The Glasgow-based independent whisky bottler and blender Brave New Spirits, have today announced that they have submitted a final planning application to Argyll & Bute council, for a new single malt whisky distillery at the former RAF Machrihanish airbase in Campbeltown.

The Witchburn Distillery, which will be located between Campbeltown Airport and Machrihanish Village, will use traditional distilling craftsmanship to produce unpeated, lightly peated and heavily peated malts.

The Witchburn Distillery

The new Net Zero carbon production distillery - which will produce 2 million litres of alcohol per year, will be powered by 100% green renewable energy sources and the latest in heat and energy recovery systems, making Witchburn one of the most environmentally friendly distillery in Scotland. The distillery is planning to run 24/7, to ensure it keeps reusing as much heat and energy as possible.

Witchburn takes its name from the word Witch; originally meant folk healers, mostly ‘wised women’ using herbs and power of imagination. Previously amongst the most respected people in village life. Burn; which comes from the Scots Gaelic for naturally occurring fresh water stream or very small river that flows into a larger river.

When complete Witchburn will operate with 1 Mash tun - with a capacity of 5 tons; 16 Washbacks - each with a capacity of 30,000 litres, allowing for a fermentation period of 96 hours or more; 2 Wash Stills – each with a capacity of 16,000 litres and 2 Spirit Stills – each with a capacity of 7,000 litres.

Witchburn has a carefully planned wood policy, with the majority of its spirit to be filled into barrels from famous American Bourbon producers, Oloroso Sherry casks from various Bodegas, selected Tawny and Ruby Port barriques and organic Bordeaux wine barriques. The distillery will mature its casks in on-site warehousing close to the sea, and in warehouses in the Campbeltown area.

Production at Witchburn will be headed by Founding Master Distiller, Andrew Nairn, former Distillery Manager of Glenkinchie, Strathmill and Borders Distillery, who said: “I’m delighted to have the opportunity to work with Organic Architects and Frilli to develop a distillery to produce a truly great Campbeltown Spirit to combine traditional artisan methods of whisky-making with the latest green technology is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Witchburn, which plans to create around 30 permanent new jobs in production, warehousing, and distribution, also plans to open a visitors’ centre in the next few years.

Commenting on the news, joint owners of Brave New Spirits and the new Witchburn Distillery, Adam Hochul and Alexander Springensguth, said: “We are looking forward becoming part of the community, contributing to the already worldwide reputation of Campbeltown whisky. We could not find a better location to build our first still house. The distillery is a great addition to our existing portfolio of internationally recognised brands of Scotch whisky, but also an opportunity to give back to the outstanding community of Scottish whisky distillers.”

“The whole design aims to produce a typical, complex and full-bodied Campbeltown malt. Our aim is to recreate a whisky like it has been produced many decades ago.”

Subject to planning application approval and schedules, production at Witchburn Distillery will commence in the last quarter of 2024.

Posted by Steve Rush