House of Suntory partners with Sofia Coppola and Keanu Reeves to celebrate 100 years

The House of Suntory, the founding House of Japanese whisky, is celebrating its 100 year anniversary. In honour of the centennial, the House is partnering with director Sofia Coppola and actor Keanu Reeves on a campaign which includes a video tribute, documentary short and photography. Exclusive 100 year anniversary editions of its whiskies are also set to be introduced.

Coppola has directed the Suntory Anniversary Tribute, which tells the story of the brand’s heritage and whisky-making legacy over the last 100 years. The tribute features Reeves, who previously appeared in a Suntory Reserve ad campaign back in 1992.

Later in the year, Reeves will star in a series of documentary shorts, The Nature and Spirit of Japan, to be directed by Roman Coppola. The series explores Japanese whisky culture and is said to strike a balance between education and entertainment.

House of Suntory managing director Jon Potter commented: "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.”

Reeves added: "I’m honoured to partner with Suntory Whisky again thirty years after our Suntory Reserve campaign. I’m a huge fan of Suntory Whisky, so it’s very special to collaborate in honor of this milestone anniversary. My admiration for the whisky goes beyond tasting the whisky. It is the elevated Japanese craftsmanship and attention to every detail that makes Suntory Whisky so special. As an actor honing and perfecting my own craft, sharing this process in a docuseries is a thrill.”

The limited edition whiskies to be released with 100 year anniversary labels include the flagship Yamazaki 12 Year Old, Hakushu 12 Year Old, Yamazaki 18 Year Old Mizunara and Hakushu 18 Year Old Peated Malt.

Chief blender Shinji Fukuyo said on the releases: “Hakushu and Yamazaki whiskies are gifts from our past handed down by generations. It is fitting to release limited editions as part of this incredible milestone, as they represent our relentless pursuit of quality and symbolize our promise to carry our philosophy on for the next one hundred years and beyond.”

As a first step toward the future, the House of Suntory is investing 10 billion JPY ($77m USD) to enhance its Yamazaki and Hakushu Distilleries, which are currently closed for renovation. 

24 May 2023 - Bradley Weir