Suntory 1970

[WiLL7113]

Hi guys ,

I’m new on this forum and i first need to say that i don’t know anything about whisky .

My grandfather gave me a bottle of suntory whisky. He bought in japan in 1970; I would like to know the value of it.

The first label on the top says since 1899. Just under the label it says Suntory Very rare old whisky. In commemoration of EXPO’70

The last label on the bottom part is all in Japanese.

The bottle has never been open, the seal is still on it.

I can’t find anything about it on internet that’s why I’m posting on this forum hoping that one of you guys will be able to give me information about it.

Thanks in advance.

Will

[MGillespie]

Will, welcome to the forums. Let me see if I can help with some of this...

If I remember correctly, the 1899 probably refers to the year that Suntory was founded. However, it was making beer and other products for many years before opening its first distillery (Yamazaki) in 1923.

The Expo '70 refers to the World's Fair-styled Expos that took place in several cities during the 60's and 70's. In fact, Montreal's old baseball team was named the Expos in honor of the Expo that was held there in 1967. The 1970 Expo was held in Osaka, Japan, and that's likely the source of your commemorative bottle.

You might try contacting Suntory's North American office in New York...they might be able to help you find more details about the bottle...that's about as far as I can go...

Mark

[tomzev]

Sorry for reopening this topic.

Yesterday I bought a bottle just like mentioned above. Is there anyone who is willing to give some extra information?

Thanx!

[MGillespie]

No worries...we now know that this was one of Suntory's regular blends, and is a commemorative bottle for the Expo in Osaka that year. Not sure what it would bring at auction. Might be worth contacting Andrew Bell at McTear's in Glasgow or Martin Green at Bonham's in Edinburgh for some ideas...

Mark

[tomzev]

Thanks Mark!

I will send an email to the persons you mentioned.

I've bought this bottle for €75,-. Do you think it's a good deal?

Tom

[MGillespie]

Hard to say, but given the relative rarity of Japanese whiskies from that period outside Japan, it's probably a fair price. I could be wrong, though...

Mark

[dramtastic]

I can tell you that in Japan these are not that rare(I see them for private sale often enough) and sell for around Y3000 sometimes a little less. You can do the conversion back into Euro's from there. I should also mention that the Japanese often add the term very rare old whisky whether it particularly is or not.

As long as your happy with what you have, that's the main thing.

[tomzev]

Thank you all for your comments.

I've attached a picture for the records (yeah, it's a ugly bottle )

[dramtastic]

Fortunately they also packaged this in a far more attractive bottle as well

[brummage]

...... I should also mention that the Japanese often add the term very rare old whisky whether it particularly is or not........

Not just the Japanese. Many of the whisky sellers on ebay too

[corbuso]

Thank you for the photo. I have seen the same bottle on a picture, but the content seemed much darker. It should about 350 ml and the last bottle I saw for sale this year reached about £40