Last year marked 100 years of The House of Suntory, an auspicious celebration that saw the company release a series of travel retail exclusives, limited and rare editions, and a flurry of memorable activations and campaigns.
In celebration of that milestone and the ten-year anniversary of Suntory Holdings’ acquisition of Beam Inc, this April the group underwent a major rebranding, becoming Suntory Global Spirits. The company said the move reflects “the company’s evolution into a truly global leader across categories in spirits and Ready-To-Drink cocktails”.
The first release under this new brand umbrella is The Kogei Collection, the subject of this Moodie Davitt Spotlight Series eZine.
The Kogei Collection Japanese Kimono Edition takes its name from Kogei, a celebration of traditional Japanese craftsmanship. The range is Suntory Whisky’s first-ever travel retail-exclusive collection and its first exclusive line outside of Japan, representing a strong statement of belief in the travel retail channel.
The Kogei Collection Japanese Kimono Edition features two striking limited-edition whisky expressions, both made with peated malt and matured in Spanish oak casks. However, the two whiskies were produced in Suntory Whisky’s Hakushu and Yamazaki distilleries, respectively, creating two very distinctive liquids that showcase the best of Japanese whisky craftsmanship and terroir.
In this eZine, The House of Suntory fifth-generation Chief Whisky Blender Shinji Fukuyo talks to us about the knowledge, tradition and heritage that went into crafting both whisky expressions and his commitment to preserving the traditions and legacy of Japanese whisky.
The Kogei Collection is also the result of an artful collaboration with Chiso Kimono House, whose designs inspired the packaging of both whiskies. The alliance brings together the parallel worlds of whisky and kimono-making, showing the shared values and heritage of the two prestigious Japanese houses.
The limited-edition range is being showcased via a dynamic campaign in global travel retail, which kicked off in March with a celebratory event in association with Lotte Duty Free at Singapore Changi Airport. The occasion also signalled the opening of The House of Suntory’s first shop-in-shop concept, which represents a new frontier in its mission to bring Japanese whiskies to consumers all over the world.
We reprise our original exclusive report on the opening, which The Moodie Davitt Report Asia Pacific Content Strategist Lara Netherlands was privileged to attend.
The significance of The Kogei Collection and Suntory Global Spirits’ wider responsibility in not just growing the Japanese whisky category, but also protecting its integrity, are explored by Suntory Global Spirits Managing Director Global Travel Retail Ashish Gandham in our keynote interview.
We are also proud to present a remarkable film, shot by Alexander Roux as part of our new film division Moodie Davitt STUDIO, with snippets from Suntory Whisky’s special The Kogei Collection tasting event held on 14 May at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore.
The event was held in the Wakuda restaurant in Marina Bay Sands and featured a special tasting led by Suntory Whisky Brand Ambassador James Bowker. We hope you enjoy this striking film, perhaps with dram in hand, along with the rest of this special edition.
The Moodie Davitt Report Brands Director Hannah Tan
