Japan: Kirin to beef up whiskey production in Japan

Kirin Co. said on February 7 it will beef up whiskey production in Japan to address its short supply amid the popularity of highball, or whiskey mixed with soda, Jiji Press reported.

An affiliated whiskey maker in the central prefecture of Shizuoka will invest some 8 billion yen to double the production capacity of unblended whiskey and increase the capability to house whiskey barrels by 20 pct. The expanded production will start in June 2021.

The move came after a decision by Kirin, a unit of Kirin Holdings Co., to stop selling a domestically produced whiskey brand, Fuji Sanroku Tarujuku Genshu 50, last year, due to a shortage of unblended whiskey.

In a similar move, Suntory Spirits Ltd., a unit of Suntory Holdings Ltd., has suspended shipments of its mainstay Hakushu 12 Years Old and Hibiki 17 Years Old whiskey brands.