The celebrity-alcohol linkup of the year doesn’t come courtesy of a McConaughey, Clooney, Jenner, or even the omnipresent Reynolds. Indeed, it’s a little more understated, with the House of Suntory teaming up with filmmaker Sofia Coppola and actor Keanu Reeves. The duo have collaborated on a short film, Suntory Anniversary Tribute, an apt celebration of the Japanese whisky house’s 100th anniversary.
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Twenty years after filming Lost in Translation, Coppola returns to Japan to honour House of Suntory’s centennial, with the short film celebrating both the brand and Japanese whisky culture. Referencing the seminal 2003 film which sees Bill Murray play an actor travelling to Japan to shoot a Suntory commercial, the Suntory Anniversary Tribute sees John Wick actor — and noted whisky lover — Keanu Reeves sipping a Hibiki 21 — Suntory’s signature blended whisky — on the rocks. Interspersed with archival footage of significant campaigns, commercials, and pop culture tidbits, the Suntory Anniversary Tribute pays respect to the past and present of the House of Suntory.
The tribute marks the second time Reeves has worked with the House of Suntory; the first being a 1992 campaign for Suntory Reserve that’s equal parts surrealist and seductive.
The coming months will see the actor star in another creative project with the House of Suntory. Directed by Roman Coppola, a docuseries titled The Nature and Spirit of Japan will explore Japanese whisky culture and its singular craftsmanship and ties to nature.
“I’m honoured to partner with Suntory Whisky again thirty years after our Suntory Reserve campaign,” said Keanu Reeves. “I’m a huge fan of Suntory Whisky, so it’s very special to collaborate in honour 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.”
Of course, dram lovers are well catered to with the release of a quartet of limited-edition single malts. Among them, two aged expressions from the Yamazaki and Hakushu distilleries. Aged entirely in Japanese mizunara oak, the Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara is defined by orangette undertones with spices, rich fruits, and a touch of coconut and incense on the palette.
From the revered mountain forest distillery, the Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt is a multi-cask expression composed of meticulously selected malt whiskies, each aged a minimum of 18 years. The refined, smoky liquid sports a nuanced palette with herbal, grapefruit, and acacia honey notes coming through.
The Yamazaki 18-Year-Old Mizunara is priced at $4199AUD and the Hakushu 18-Year-Old Peated Malt is $3399AUD, with more information available on the House of Suntory webstore.
Words by John Deckard
