Rachel King, writing for Town & Country back in May:

More than a century before Japanese whisky became one of the most coveted spirits in the world, a young merchant in Osaka had a simple observation: the wines and liquors being imported from Europe didn’t suit Japanese tastes. What he built from that insight—one product at a time, for the last 127 years and counting—is now one of the largest beverage companies on earth.

I was unaware of Suntory’s history. I’m a fan of Japanese whisky and usually have at least one bottle of it in the house. For many years, it was often something from Suntory. Thanks to the pioneering efforts of Suntory’s founder, Shinjiro Torii, there are now several great Japanese whisky distilleries from which to choose. (I’m currently partial to Mars.)