Suntory Holdings To Acquire Beam In $16 Billion Transaction

OSAKA, JAPAN and DEERFIELD, ILLINOIS – JANUARY 13, 2014 – Suntory Holdings Limited and Beam Inc. (NYSE: BEAM) today jointly announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement under which Suntory will acquire all outstanding shares of Beam for US$83.50 per share in cash or total consideration of approximately US$16 billion, including the assumption of Beam’s outstanding net debt.  The transaction consideration represents a 25% premium to Beam’s closing price of $66.97 on January 10, 2014; a 24% premium to the volume-weighted average share price over the last three months; and a multiple of more than 20 times Beam’s EBITDA1 for the 12-month period ended September 30, 2013. 

The transaction, which has been unanimously approved by each company’s board of directors, is expected to close in the second quarter of 2014, subject to Beam stockholders’ approval, regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. 

The transaction will create a stronger global player in premium spirits with annual net sales of spirits products exceeding $4.3 billion.  Its combined  portfolio of leading brands will include Beam’s Jim Beam, Maker’s Mark and Knob Creek bourbons, Teacher’s and Laphroaig Scotch whiskies, Canadian Club whisky, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, and Pinnacle vodka, and Suntory’s leading Japanese whiskies Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki, and Kakubin, Bowmore Scotch whisky and Midori liqueur. Beam’s President and Chief Executive Officer Matt Shattock and the current Beam management team will continue to lead the business, which will be managed from Beam’s headquarters outside Chicago, Illinois.

Nobutada Saji, President and Chairman of Suntory’s Board, said, “I am delighted that we can announce this agreement with Beam, a company with a portfolio of leading global brands, including Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, and a strong global distribution network. I believe this combination will create a spirits business with a product portfolio unmatched throughout the world and allow us to achieve further global growth.  We are particularly excited about the prospect of working more closely with Beam’s excellent management and employees who will play an integral part in the growth of the business.”

Unparalleled Breadth in the Fast-Growing Whisky Category

“This is a very exciting development that delivers substantial value for our stockholders and creates an even stronger global company with an excellent platform for future growth,” said Matt Shattock, President and Chief Executive Officer of Beam Inc.  “Together we will be a global leader in distilled spirits with the #3 position in premium spirits and a dynamic portfolio across key categories.  With particular strength in Bourbon, Scotch, Canadian, Irish and Japanese whisky, the combined company will have unparalleled expertise and portfolio breadth in premium whisky, which is driving the fastest growth in Western spirits.

“Our combined global routes to market will expand our joint distribution footprint, and the powerful innovation capabilities both companies have developed will be a significant advantage,” Shattock continued.  “Backed by the expertise and the financial resources of Suntory, the people of Beam look forward to working with the Suntory team to continue outperforming our global market and to building on the proud traditions and deep heritage of our brands across all the major spirits categories.”  

On completion of the transaction, Suntory and Beam aim to achieve growth in markets worldwide, including the United States, the world’s largest spirits market , by leveraging a combined portfolio of strong brands, an expanded distribution network and fully sharing production and quality control know-how.

Suntory and Beam already have a successful business relationship under which Suntory distributes Beam products in Japan and Beam distributes Suntory’s products in Singapore and other Asian markets. 

Creating Substantial Value for Beam Stockholders

“The attractive valuation which has been achieved for Beam stockholders is a result of the successful strategy and excellent execution by the worldwide Beam team,” said Beam Chairman David Mackay.  “Indeed, Beam will have achieved a total shareholder return of 106%  since Beam became a standalone spirits company in October of 2011.”

Suntory intends to fund the transaction through a combination of cash at hand and fully committed financing provided by The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ.  Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Suntory and Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP is acting as legal advisor. Centerview Partners and Credit Suisse are serving as financial advisors to Beam and Sidley Austin LLP is serving as legal advisor.  

_________________

1  LTM EBITDA before charges/gains as of September 30, 2013

2  By Value. Excludes local spirits

3  Based on Bloomberg Total Shareholder Return function

About Suntory

Founded in Osaka, Japan in 1899, Suntory Group is Japan’s leading player in alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, with sales of $17.6 billion (2012) .  Suntory’s alcoholic beverage business encompasses high-quality brands represented by its flagship single malt whisky “Yamazaki”, “The Premium Malt’s” beer, wine, and ready-to-drink (RTD) brands. In recent years, Suntory Whiskies are becoming increasingly popular among consumers worldwide, as they gain a reputation for quality, supported by success at some of the world’s most renowned spirits competitions.   Suntory’s non-alcoholic beverage business is expanding successfully into international markets and was listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange in 2013 as Suntory Beverage & Food Limited. Suntory has supplemented its organic growth in overseas markets with strategic acquisitions including New Zealand beverage company Frucor Group and French beverage company Orangina Schweppes Group in 2009 as well as the acquisition of GlaxoSmithKline’s Lucozade and Ribena drink brands in 2013.　Suntory Group currently operates in Asia, Oceania, Europe, the Americas and Africa, with more than 28,000 employees (as of December 31, 2012). For more information on Suntory, please visit www.suntory.com 

About Beam Inc. 

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World.  Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials.  Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations. 

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index.  For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamglobal.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Glenmorangie’s new “friendship” whisky launched   

— The fifth annual offering from its award-winning Private Edition range — 

Glenmorangie has released its eagerly-awaited fifth annual limited edition single malt whisky: Companta. 

Its predecessor, Ealanta, was recently named the world’s best dram by Jim Murray, one of the world’s leading whisky experts. 

Created by wood management pioneer and three-time winner of Malt Advocate’s coveted Industry Leader of the Year award Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie Companta is the latest in the Private Edition range – a group of rare and intriguing single malts. 

Glenmorangie Companta is Scots Gaelic for friendship and celebrates Glenmorangie and distinguished French vineyards’ shared pursuit of perfection. 

Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling and Whisky Creation, said: “Having spent over 20 years travelling to some of France’s most renowned vineyards, I’ve had the opportunity to sample many rare and intriguing wines in search of the finest casks to complement the extra-maturation of our whisky. 

“Some of my most memorable visits have been to Burgundy, where the dedication and attention to detail that goes into their craft never ceases to amaze me. 

“The smaller vineyards of the region don’t seem to worry about yields, costs, or timings. They work tirelessly, simply to produce the very best wine. In the same spirit as Glenmorangie, they stop at nothing in the pursuit of perfection. 

“This shared philosophy inspired me to create the ultimate tribute to my longstanding love for French vineyards and the friends that I’ve had the pleasure to make throughout my travels.” 

On the nose, Companta exudes rich, “autumnal” scents of red berries and damp forest floors, with a hint of fragrant woodsmoke complementing notes of aromatic, nutty oak. 

Upon tasting, a spicy palate redolent of cherries and stewed fruits is slowly revealed, as notes of sugared plums, blood orange and rose-hip syrup emerge alongside milk chocolate and brown sugar, leading into a mouth-coating finish. 

Bottled at a strength of 46 per cent, and non chill-filtered for extra body and texture, Glenmorangie Companta is available from independent specialist retailers and department stores including Royal Mile Whiskies and the Whiski Rooms with an RSP of £69.99.  

A refined balance between bold spice and rich, smooth sweetness, Companta is the result of a careful assemblage of Glenmorangie extra-matured in both renowned Burgundy Grand Cru Clos de Tart casks and sweet fortified wine casks from Côtes du Rhône. 

Lumsden explained: “Selecting parcels of Glenmorangie which had been matured in traditional American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, I transferred the spirit into casks having previously contained one of my personal favourites – the full-bodied Grand Cru wine from Clos de Tart, one of the most celebrated vineyards in Burgundy. 

“After a period of extra-maturation, the casks imparted additional body and deep berry-like flavours to the trademark elegant, floral character of the Glenmorangie.” 

“To complement the bold, spicy character imparted from the Grand Cru casks, I selected a parcel of Glenmorangie which had been extra-maturing in casks having previously contained a lusciously sweet fortified wine from Côtes du Rhône. It took some time, but with careful fine tuning we reached a harmonious assemblage which proved the perfect balance; neither too bold nor too tame!” 

NOTES

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie Single Malt Scotch Whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks, and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create ‘unnecessarily well-made whiskies.’ 

The Glenmorangie Private Edition Range

Glenmorangie’s Private Edition is an award-winning range that provides an annual opportunity for whisky connoisseurs and aficionados to experience a rare and intriguing single malt brought to life by the Glenmorangie Whisky Creation Team. Glenmorangie Companta marks the fifth annual release in this lauded range, which has included: 

Glenmorangie Sonnalta PX – IWSC 2010 Gold Medal

(Generous) A full bodied whisky, extra matured in Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. 

Glenmorangie Finealta – IWSC 2012 Gold Medal

(Elegant) An exquisite recreation of a 1900s recipe from our archives, with subtle notes of peat. 

Glenmorangie Artein- IWSC 2013 Gold Medal

(Stone) An outstandingly fragrant whisky extra matured in ‘Super Tuscan’ wine casks, influenced by the stony terroir. 

Glenmorangie Ealanta – IWSC 2013 Gold Medal

(Skilled & ingenious) A whisky fully matured in virgin American white oak casks with a provenance that stretches all the way to the mountains of Missouri and the Mark Twain National Forest. Ealanta has been named “World Whisky of the Year” in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2014! Murray described Ealanta as “borderline perfection”. 

Kevin Mackintosh – Photographer

Renowned for his story telling through carefully crafted still imagery, Glenmorangie has once again collaborated with celebrated photographer Kevin Mackintosh to bring the Private Edition to life. 

Responsible Drinking

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Teeling Whiskey Appoint Infinium Spirits as Exclusive US Importer 

Teeling Whiskey, the leading independent Irish whiskey company, has appointed Infinium Spirits as their exclusive importer of the Teeling Whiskey portfolio of premium Irish whiskey brands to the US market. 

The US is the largest and fastest growing market for Irish whiskey with sales of 2.2m cases in 2012 and is now a larger category than Scottish single malts. Irish whiskey sales have risen over 400% since 2002 with continued growth in excess of 20% forecasted for 2014 and beyond. 

The Teeling family whiskey heritage dates back to distilling in Dublin in 1782 when Walter Teeling set up a distillery in Marrowbone Lane in the Liberties. Jack and his brother Stephen, Sales & Marketing Director, are the current generation of Teelings involved in the Irish whiskey industry. 

Teeling Whiskey is a small batch bottling from hand selected casks of grain and malt Irish whiskey which are further matured in former rum barrels. Teeling Whiskey is bottled at 46% with no chill filtration which provides an extra sweet and smooth flavor making it truly a unique Irish whiskey. While initially starting out as an independent bottler, the aim of the new generation of Teelings is to bring Teeling Whiskey home by establishing the first new whiskey distillery in Dublin in over 125 years. 

Jack Teeling, founder of the Teeling Whiskey Company, commented, “We are delighted to be able to partner with Infinium Spirits on launching our Teeling Whiskey brand in the US market. Given the importance of the US for any Irish whiskey we took our time selecting our importer and believe we have found a like-minded family-owned partner to take advantage of the opportunity for our unique expressions of Irish whiskey. We look forward to working with the Infinium team and getting our Teeling whiskey on back bars and shelves in the US.” 

Infinium Spirits is a company focused on developing distinctive brands in the premium and ultra-premium segments of the US spirits industry.

www.teelingwhiskey.com   

www.infiniumspirits.com 

Suntory Launches “Suntory Whisky Premium Kakubin

Suntory Liquors Limited will start the nationwide launch of a new product from the Suntory Whisky “Kakubin” lineup, “Premium Kakubin” on May 21st in Japan.

Since its initial release in 1937, Kakubin has been recognizable for a flavor tailored to the delicate Japanese palate and its enduring tortoise-shell bottle. The long-selling brand of whisky is representative of Japan and loved by many. In recent years, the “Kaku highball” has become a popular drink, turning those unfamiliar with whisky into devotees and greatly contributing to the revitalization of the whisky market. Sales of Kakubin from January to March 2013 in Japan have also trended upward 105% over the previous year.

With an eye toward further expanding the number of whisky aficionados, the perennial brand of choice, “Kakubin” is newly releasing “Premium Kakubin,” which was created under the concept of “luxury at your fingertips” to suggest a new way to enjoy whisky. “Premium Kakubin” is the perfect whisky for a little lift in spirits when you want a treat for yourself or to spend time with that special someone.

Characteristics

While maintaining the balanced flavor unique to “Kakubin,” the whisky utilizes carefully selected malt from wine and sherry casks at Yamazaki Distillery and Hakushu Distillery. This “Kakubin” has a rich, layered aroma that unfolds in the palate for a sweet, profound flavor and a luxurious experience.

Packaging

The package presents a quality design with a stylish, slim bottle and a label featuring the traditional Japanese color of dark steel blue, while retaining the iconic “Kakubin” appearance that serves as the brand’sidentity through the tortoise-shell bottle, elliptical label, and signature of the first master blender and founder, Shinjiro Torii.

 

(this press release is published for historical reference – WI)

Islay’s independent farm distillery, Kilchoman, has three outstanding whiskies which make an ideal accompaniment to each stage of a special Burns’ Suppers this month. 

The Kilchoman 2007 Vintage is the oldest single malt Kilchoman has released to date and recently won the Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt of the Year 2013.

Renowned whisky connoisseur, Dave Broom, says of the Kilchoman 2007 Vintage: “Kilchoman has truly arrived.  Buckle up, this is going to be some ride.  Here is a whisky which not only showed the difference between age and maturity, but was the first demonstration of the distillery itself reaching maturity, quicker than anyone might have imagined.  Single malt is all about distillery character and here you can see what Kilchoman’s is. 

Perfect for the  ‘Toast to Robert Burns’, Kilchoman 2007 is priced at £51.60 for 70cl and is available direct from www.kilchomandistillery.com and specialist whisky retailers.

The unique 100% Islay is the only Single Malt in Scotland where every stage of the whisky making process, from the barley grown in the surrounding fields to the malting, distillation, maturation and bottling, takes place at the distillery. 

On the palate, peat smoke explodes in the mouth with sweet soft mixed fruit very evident, making the 100% Islay the ideal accompaniment to Haggis, Neeps and Tatties. 

100% Islay is bottled at 50% ABV and is available from specialist drinks and whisky stores, priced at RRP of £59.95, 70cl. Available from www.kilchomandistillery.com and UK stockists including RoyalMileWhiskies, The Whisky Shop and The Whisky Exchange. Only 10,000 bottles of the limited edition are available worldwide and are selling fast. 

Machir Bay is bottled once a year, and each release contains more mature casks allowing connoisseurs of Kilchoman to follow the development of the unique malt as it matures. 

The nose of Machir Bay is soft, cooked fruits with strong peat aromas and the taste is of mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness, the perfect measure for the ‘Toast to the Lassies’ towards the end of a Burns’ supper. 

First launched in 2012, Machir Bay has since won several prestigious awards including IWSC 2012 Gold Medal – Best in Class and Whisky of the Year at the International Whisky Competition. 

The Machir Bay is priced at RRP of £39.99 and is available from www.kilchomandistillery.com, and UK specialist drinks and whisky shops.  Machir Bay 2013 is bottled at 46% ABV.  

www.kilchomandistillery.com

facebook.com/pages/Kilchoman-Distillery

twitter.com/Kilchoman05

Notes:  

Tasting Notes:  Kilchoman 2007 Single Islay Malt

Colour: light beech darkening with age
Nose: smoky vanilla and caramel notes with cooked fruits, lemon and citrus
Palate: butterscotch and soft citrus fruit with a lasting sweetness
Finish: peaty and fruity with a long lingering sweetness

Dave Broom:  “In this expression you get full integration between oak and distillery, a sparkling mix of seashell, the freshness of seaweed, mixed with churned butter, driftwood, and fresh-kilned peat. On the tongue, there’s samphire, peat, sweet barley, and an herbal kick.” 

Tasting Notes: Kilchoman 100% Single Islay Malt Scotch Whisky, 3^rd Edition

Nose: Floral and delicate with a mix of soft fruits and pear drops

Palate: The peat smoke explodes in the mouth with sweet soft mixed fruit very evident

Finish: A long sweet lingering finish with a soft peaty after taste 

Tasting Notes: Machir Bay

Colour:  light beech.

Nose:  Soft cooked fruits with strong peaty aromas.

Palate: Mixed fruits and vanilla with an intense sweetness.

Finish:  A long lingering finish.  A classic Islay malt now showing the benefit of additional ageing.   

About Kilchoman

• Since the first bottling in 2009, Kilchoman has quickly established itself as a high quality Islay Single Malt within the whisky industry. Awards include two prestigious IWSC Gold and a Silver medal in 2012, Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011 and GQ’s 100 best things in 2012. 
• Kilchoman’s exceptional quality was recognised at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC), which named Machir Bay as its Whisky of the Year and Anthony Wills as Master Distiller of the Year 2013.
• At the IWSC 2013 Awards, Loch Gorm was awarded Gold, Machir Bay received Silver and 100% Islay 2nd Ed was given bronze.
• Kilchoman 2007 Vintage received Whisky Advocate’s Award for Islay Single Malt of the Year 2013.
• Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the first distillery to be built on Islay for 125 years. A working farm distillery, it is one of only a handful of distilleries still practising floor malting. Kilchoman also grows its own barley, and completes all parts of the production process, from barley to bottling, on the island.

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd is a producer and blender of Scotch whisky, boasting a strong core range of single malt whiskies along with a range of popular blends, including The Antiquary and “Big T”. Once the largest distillery in Scotland it still boasts 12 stills and manufactures over 2,000,000 litres of whisky each year.

Tomatin uses circa 28,000 tonnes of steam per year as part of its production process and as it is located off the natural gas network, the company’s main fuel source was Heavy Fuel Oil (HFO), powering a 10MW oil boiler. With HFO prices having increased significantly over the past ten years and because it is committed to the Scotch Whisky industry’s environmental goals of 20% replacement of fossil fuels by 2020 and 80% by 2050, Tomatin wanted to use renewable energy for the provision of steam required in its production process.

The Tomatin Project
In mid-2012, Tomatin and Balcas signed a long term agreement for the supply of heat energy in the form of steam at the Distillery. Balcas designed and built a 4MW wood pellet fuelled steam plant that could supply the steam requirements for the distillation of spirit at Tomatin. The Balcas boiler delivers over 80% of the distillery’s requirements, with occasional peaks in demand being met with the backup oil boiler. The displacement of HFO onsite with brites wood pellets manufactured using renewable heat and electricity, reduces the distillery’s CO2 emissions by an estimated 90,000 tonnes over the twenty year life of the agreement. Therefore as well as significant net financial savings, the distillery has also met its 2050 environmental targets as set by the Scotch Whisky Association, making it one of the greenest distilleries in Scotland.

The Balcas team worked closely with the distillery project team to raise steam only 8 months from the initial handshake with Tomatin. Balcas also installed the energy meters and managed the application and administration involved in obtaining the Renewable Heat Incentive. Finance for the project was provided by a joint venture between Balcas and Equitix, who themselves were backed by the Government’s Green Investment Bank, its first investment in Scotland.

Balcas now remotely monitors the entire installation planning fuel deliveries and scheduling regular maintenance visits. The wood used to make brites is virgin and locally sourced in Scotland.

The Balcas Proposition

Balcas is the largest manufacturer of wood pellets in the UK with our Invergordon facility in Scotland being the largest pellet plant in the UK. With our 50 years’ experience in the timber industry and almost a decade supplying high quality wood pellets under the brites brand in the UK and Ireland, we have developed a heat energy solution tailor made for large scale industrial and commercial customers requiring saturated steam within their production process.

At the heart of the solution lies the longstanding relationship with our chosen boiler manufacturer, Vyncke. Having specialised in biomass boilers for 100 years, they have worked with Balcas to perfect a range of steam boilers made to deliver in an industrial environment where steam is often required 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Delivering the technical solution, security of long term fuel supply, on-going maintenance and the finance for the installation under one energy contract, Balcas has endeavoured to answer the questions many industrial customers have asked of the renewable energy sector.

Benefits

*Instant and significant carbon savings
*Up to 90,000 tonnes of CO2 saved over the course of the contract
*Achieved Scotch Whisky Association carbon reduction target of 80% by 2050,
*37 years ahead of schedule
*Security of fuel supply from brites wood pellets
*Long term isolation from the price fluctuations in fossil fuel market
*Significant financial savings from early in the project
*Ability to benefit from the RHI for next 20 years
*Installation of 4MW biomass steam boiler completed within 8 months including planning permission
*Over achievement of original performance targets

“As members of the Scotch Whisky Association we are fully committed, along with the other members, to reducing our carbon output by 80% by 2050. The shift to brites fuel means we have now achieved this target; 37 years ahead of the target. As well as the carbon reduction, there was also a clear financial saving offered by Balcas, with the Renewable Heat Incentive providing additional funding for the next twenty years. In addition to these savings, the solution proposed by Balcas was also much more compact that others we had reviewed and the use of pellets meant we had a local and reliable source of fuel. We are delighted to now be one of the greenest distilleries in Scotland, and to have been the first to have completed the installation.”

Graham Eunson
Distillery Manager, Tomatin

Suntory Whiskies Hibiki, Yamazaki, and Hakushu Brands Take Total of Nine Gold Medals at the International Spirits Challenge 2013

Nine whiskies from Suntory Liquors won prizes at the eighteenth International Spirits Challenge 2013, the worldwide liquor competition held in the UK. The winning blended whiskies were Hibiki21 Years Old, 17 Years Old and 12 Years Old, and the winning single malt whiskies were Yamazaki 18 Years Old, Puncheon 2012, Mizunara 2012 as well as Hakushu 25 Years Old, 18 Years Old and Heavily Peated 2012.

At this year’s competition, we received the honor of having nine of our brands win a gold medal in the Whiskies – Whiskies Worldwide category (whiskies other than Scotch). Since first being awarded a gold medal from the International Spirits Challenge in 2003 for Yamazaki 12 Years Old, Suntory’s whiskies have taken medals at the competition eleven years running, a fact that Suntory views as a meaningful testament to the ever-rising evaluation of its whiskies.

About the International Spirits Challenge

The International Spirits Challenge is a competition held every year in the UK, the home of real Scotch whisky. In the whisky division, medals are awarded by based on the unanimous approval of discussions by the team of nine tasters, all of whom are blenders, distillery managers and other industry professionals, and who perform sensory inspections on each of the roughly 400 whiskies submitted from around the world. The competition is seen as an authoritative arena for judging the quality of the entries by the exquisite sensory skills of the panel of whisky-making professionals.

The Award-Winning Whiskies

Suntory Whisky: Hibiki 21 Years Old

This whisky is a blend of painstakingly selected ripe grain malts aged over 21 years and a key Yamazaki sherry cask malt. With a fragrance of sweet dried fruit and a spicy flavor, it is characterized by a solemn, refined richness and profound, lingering echoes.

Suntory Whisky: Hibiki 17 Years Old

This whisky is blended using carefully selected malts aged over 17 years, and ripe grain malts of the same age. With a gorgeously sweet fruit fragrance and a cask aroma like milk caramels, this whisky stands out for its weighty and mellow richness.

Suntory Whisky: Hibiki 12 Years Old

This whisky is blended using painstakingly selected malts aged over 12 years, and multiple types of ripe grain malts of the same age. We use plum liqueur cask malts aged in casks for storing plum liqueur to further bring out the gorgeously sweet fragrance that distinguishes Suntory whiskies.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky: Yamazaki 18 Years Old

This single malt whisky comes from malts 18 years or older, vatted primarily in sherry casks. With an impressionable fragrance of sweet dried fruit and a fragrant aroma, it is characterized by a mature flavor with complexity and depth.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky: Yamazaki Puncheon 2012

This whisky is made by vatting only carefully select malts aged in puncheon casks crafted from North American white oak. With a gold, transparent hue, it has an impressionable, gorgeously rich cask aroma of white oak reminiscent of sweet vanilla.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky: Yamazaki Mizunara 2012

A part of any discussion about Suntory whiskies, this brand comes purely from carefully selected rare malts vatted in casks of Japanese mizunara wood. With a reddish amber hue, it is characterized by an oriental smell and taste of sandalwood and aloes-wood.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky: Hakushu 25 Years Old

This well mellow whisky has been patiently crafted from a lovingly chosen array of creamy yet powerful malts, smoky peat-dried malts and sherry cask malts with voluptuous fruit aromas, all from a stock of rare malts aged over 25 years.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky: Hakushu 18 Years Old

Left fresh and untouched, Hakushu malts aged 18 years or longer are characterized by a gorgeous and deep aroma reminiscent of ripened fruits as only a well-aged malt can be. With a brilliant harmony of complex richness and sweet cask aroma, the delicately smoky scent characteristic of the Hakushu brand echoes pleasantly through you.

Suntory Single Malt Whisky: Hakushu Heavily Peated 2012

For this whisky we exclusively use smoky malts from those used to create the flavor of the Hakushu brand. With an impressionably delicate yet sweet smoky aroma, once it enters your mouth it creates smoky, long-lasting echoes in a harmony of gentle fragrance and soft sweetness.

(this press release is published for historical reference – WI)

WILLIAM GRANT & SONS AWARDED TOP HONOURS

Global premium spirits business and independent family distillers William Grant & Sons has won two highly prestigious and sought after titles. It has received the Distiller of the Year Trophy and the International Spirits Producer Trophy at the 2013 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), which took place at London’s Guildhall on November 13th.

In the individual product honours, the Glenfiddich 40 Year Old received the Single Malt Cask Strength Scotch Whisky Trophy, The Balvenie 40 Year Old scooped the Single Malt Scotch Whisky Trophy over 15 Years Old and Grant’s 18 Year Old won The Independence Trophy For Blended Scotch Whisky.

This is the sixth time William Grant & Sons has been awarded the top honour of Distiller of the Year since 1999. The Company was lauded by the judging panel for “striving to progress by increasing investments and seeking new markets in order to stay at the top” and received praised for “sticking to its roots whilst refusing to be constrained by them”.

Brian Kinsman, William Grant & Sons’ Malt Master and Master Blender, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be named ‘Distiller of the Year and ‘International Spirits Producer of the Year’. It is fantastic to be recognised in this way and is truly testament to the hard work the whole team puts in to crafting our award winning portfolio of premium spirits.”

(This article appears here as a historical reference – WI)

Suntory’s “Hibiki 21 Years Old” Whisky Honored with the Trophy in its Category at the ISC International Liquor Competition in the U.K

Suntory Liquors also takes the Distiller of the Year award for the third time

At the awards ceremony of the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2013, a worldwide liquor competition held on Tuesday, July 16 in London, Suntory Liquors Limited was awarded the Trophy, the highest award in the World Whiskies category for its blended whisky Hibiki 21 Years Old. This coincided with the designation of Suntory Liquors as “Distiller of the Year,” an annual honor bestowed upon the best distiller that consistently produces a variety of high-quality products.

Hibiki 21 Years Old competed against about 400 whisky products entered in this year’s event and won the top spot in the World Whiskies category. This is the first time for Hibiki 21 Years Old to be honored with “Trophy”, Suntory Liquors Limited has also received the Distiller of the Year award for the third time, having taken it in 2010 and 2012. The judges offered high praise for the whisky, saying that “Suntory is a force to be reckoned with and are really pushing the Japanese whisky category to an International level,” and also that “Hibiki 21 Years Old has a rich, full aroma with plenty of oak and soft fruit flavors, a good balance and texture, and enjoys a long rich finish.”

Suntory views this prize, awarded as the company goes into its 90th year of crafting whisky, as a significant testament to the judges’ evaluation of the high quality of its unblended malt and grain whiskies, the varied and distinguished range of those unblended whiskies, and the strength of its blending techniques.
As a result of this recognition, we will further accelerate our domestic and international marketing of Hibiki brand products.

About the International Spirits Challenge

The International Spirits Challenge is a competition held every year in the UK. Entries are divided into each category such as “Whisky” or “Liquors”, and gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded in each of those categories. There is also one ultimate award, the Trophy, given to the gold medal winners chosen as best in the categories of awards given. Distiller of the Year award is given each year to one maker of a diverse range of high quality products.
The winners in the “Whiskies” category are chosen unanimously by a panel of nine judges, including blenders from whisky distilleries from around the world, and each year these awards garner the attention of the worldwide liquor industry.

The Award-Winning Whisky

Suntory Whisky: Hibiki 21 Years Old

This whisky is a blend of painstakingly selected ripe grain malts aged over 21 years and the key Yamazaki sherry cask malt is vatted with other carefully chosen mellow unblended grain malts over 21 years old. With aromas of sweet dried fruit and a spicy flavor, it is characterized by a solemn, refined richness and profound, lingering echoes.

Name of Competition

18th International Spirits Challenge 2013

Prizes and Winners

Trophy: Suntory Whisky Hibiki 21 Years Old

Distiller of the Year: Suntory Liquors Limited

Awards Ceremony

19:00(local time), Tuesday, July 16, 2013

At Honourable Artillery Company, London, U.K.

Whisky Website

http://suntory.jp/WHISKY/

(this press release is published for historical reference – WI)

WILLIAM GRANT & SONS AWARDED TOP HONOURS 

Global premium spirits business and independent family distillers William Grant & Sons has won two highly prestigious and sought after titles. It has received the Distiller of the Year Trophy and the International Spirits Producer Trophy at the 2013 International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC), which took place at London’s Guildhall on November 13th.

In the individual product honours, the Glenfiddich 40 Year Old received the Single Malt Cask Strength Scotch Whisky Trophy, The Balvenie 40 Year Old scooped the Single Malt Scotch Whisky Trophy over 15 Years Old and Grant’s 18 Year Old won The Independence Trophy For Blended Scotch Whisky.

This is the sixth time William Grant & Sons has been awarded the top honour of Distiller of the Year since 1999. The Company was lauded by the judging panel for “striving to progress by increasing investments and seeking new markets in order to stay at the top” and received praised for “sticking to its roots whilst refusing to be constrained by them”.

Brian Kinsman, William Grant & Sons’ Malt Master and Master Blender, said: “We are absolutely delighted to be named ‘Distiller of the Year and ‘International Spirits Producer of the Year’. It is fantastic to be recognised in this way and is truly testament to the hard work the whole team puts in to crafting our award winning portfolio of premium spirits.”

(This article appears here as a historical reference)