Demand for spirits in general has exceeded decade-old forecasts with the result that supplies are running low.
Depending on inventories, the company will stop selling Hakushu 12 Year around June and Hibiki 17 Year beginning around September.
In a scenario similar to the U.S., the whiskey market in Japan was in a long slump. But now demand has accelerated – volume was up 9% last year and more than twice the level of 2008. Suntory is raising capital to increase output and has added stills at some distilleries.
It said it will resume sales of the two brands one its supply rebuilds.