The founder of Suntory, Shinjiro Torii, created a unique Japanese whisky using pure water, diverse climate, and high humidity. He hired Masataka Taketsuru from Nikka fame and introduced Japan's first domestically produced whisky in 1929. Suntory has since produced sophisticated whiskies, particularly under the Yamazaki label, using European and American oak casks, and experimenting with Japanese oak, sandalwood, cedar, and plum wine. This complex, mature whisky has been compared to fine bourbon and ultra-aged rum, earning an impressive 93 points.