Suntory Global Spirits

Suntory Global Spirits Inc.

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Beverage
Predecessor	Beam Suntory, Inc.; Beam, Inc.
Founded	2011
Headquarters	Chicago , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Products	Bourbon, Japanese whisky, Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, Canadian whisky, tequila, vodka, cognac, rum, liqueurs, ready-to-consume cocktails
Owner	Suntory Holdings
Parent	Suntory Holdings

Suntory Global Spirits Inc., previously known as Beam Suntory, Inc. and Beam, Inc., is a U.S.-based beverage corporation operating as a subsidiary of the Japanese conglomerate Suntory Holdings. It holds the position of the third-largest worldwide producer of distilled spirits, trailing only behind Diageo and Pernod Ricard. Its extensive range features bourbon, Japanese, Scotch, Irish, and Canadian whiskies, along with tequila, vodka, cognac, rum, liqueurs, and ready-to-consume cocktails.

History

The whiskey journey began in 1795 when James Beam started selling his product; the enterprise was officially founded in 1935 under the name James B. Beam Distilling Company. Following several ownership transitions—including its 1968 acquisition by American Brands—the company expanded by acquiring National Distillers in 1987 and rebranded as Jim Beam Brands Company. In 2005, Fortune Brands took ownership and broadened its international whiskey presence by purchasing 20 brands from Allied Domecq for $5 billion.

In 2006, the company adopted the name Beam Global Spirits & Wine and later separated from Fortune Brands in 2011 to become the publicly traded Beam Inc., concentrating exclusively on spirits. That same year, it acquired Cooley Distillery for $95 million and subsequently bought Pinnacle vodka and Calico Jack rum brands for $600 million.

January 2014 saw Suntory Holdings announce a $13.6 billion deal to acquire Beam Inc., which finalized in April 2014 at approximately $16 billion, forming Beam Suntory. This merger integrated Suntory’s expertise in Japanese spirits with Beam’s American portfolio, strengthening global reach and competitive positioning.

Over time, Beam Suntory divested several assets: selling Harveys Bristol Cream sherry and Fundador brandy to Alliance Global Group for €275 million in 2015; transferring Kamora and Leroux liqueur lines to Phillips Distilling in 2021; and divesting Courvoisier Cognac to Campari Group in 2024.

The company moved its U.S. headquarters to Chicago’s Merchandise Mart in 2016 and established a long-term sponsorship agreement with the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in 2017.

In May 2024, the firm underwent a rebranding to Suntory Global Spirits, unveiling a refreshed corporate identity that reflects its broadened international strategy and market presence.

Brands

Suntory Global Spirits offers a diverse portfolio spanning several whiskey categories:

American whiskey:

Bourbon: Baker's, Basil Hayden's, Beam's Eight Star, Booker's, Jim Beam, Kessler, Knob Creek, Legent, Maker's Mark, Old Crow, Old Grand-Dad

Rye: Jim Beam Rye, Knob Creek Rye, Old Overholt

Blended: Beam's Eight Star, Kessler

Canadian whisky: Alberta Premium, Canadian Club

Irish whiskey: Connemara, Kilbeggan, The Tyrconnell

Japanese whisky: Chita, Hakushu, Hibiki, Kakubin, Yamazaki, Toki (a blend of single malts and single grain)

Scotch whisky:

Single malt: Ardmore, Auchentoshan, Bowmore, Glen Garioch, Laphroaig

Blended: Teacher's Highland Cream

Spanish whisky: DYC

Gin: Larios, Sipsmith, Roku

Liqueur: DeKuyper, Midori, Sourz

Rum: Cruzan

Tequila: El Tesoro de Don Felipe, Hornitos, Sauza, Tres Generaciones, 100 Años

Vodka: Effen, Haku, Pinnacle, Vox

Chūhai: Strong Zero

In addition to producing its own labels and subsidiaries’ products, Suntory also imports and markets brands such as DeKuyper cordial and formerly Kamora coffee liqueur. The company’s manufacturing facilities produce spirits for third-party brands as well—for example Calvert Extra blended whiskey owned by Luxco.

In popular culture

The 2003 motion picture Lost in Translation features Bill Murray’s character shooting a Suntory whisky advertisement, which includes the tagline "For relaxing times, make it Suntory time," significantly boosting the brand's global visibility.

FCPA Violation

In October 2020, Beam Suntory Inc. consented to a $19.57 million settlement to conclude a U.S. probe into breaches of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). The investigation centered on bribing an Indian government official to obtain licensing authorization for product bottling and highlighted deficiencies in internal controls. Beam Suntory entered into a deferred prosecution agreement lasting three years with U.S. authorities concerning conspiracy charges related to anti-bribery statutes and record-keeping infractions.

See also

• 2016 Jim Beam strike