Chita

On a peninsula south of Nagoya, Chita is the least famous and most indispensable of Suntory's three distilleries: a column-still grain plant whose clean, honeyed whisky is the canvas beneath the company's blends. Above all it anchors Hibiki — Suntory's luxury blend of Yamazaki and Hakushu malts on Chita grain, released in its 24-faceted bottle in 1989 and now among the most awarded blended whiskies on earth. Chita also stars alone as a delicate single grain, the darling of Tokyo highball bars.