Whiskey prices to rise in spring

The Yomiuri Shimbun

November 30, 2021

Suntory Spirits Ltd. said it will raise the prices of 31 whiskey products from brands including Hibiki and Yamazaki, starting with shipments from April 1.

The price hikes will range from 5% to 28%, and apply to products from eight domestic and imported whiskey brands. It will be the first increase for Suntory Spirits’ domestic products in six years since April 2016, and the first for imported whiskey in two years since April 2020.

Suntory Spirits plans to use the increased revenue from domestic whiskey to boost its production facilities, as demand for whiskey has grown rapidly at home and abroad. The higher prices of imports from Scotland and Ireland, such as Macallan, will reflect the higher procurement costs of finished products.

The suggested retail price for 700 milliliters of Hibiki Japanese Harmony will be raised by ¥500 to ¥5,500 excluding tax, while that for Yamazaki, aged 12 years, will be raised by ¥1,500 to ¥10,000.

Prices will increase 28% for products with long aging periods.