Society

Kirin to drop biggest whisky brand

Nov 29 (NHK) - Officials at major beverage maker Kirin are dropping their biggest domestic whisky brand. They say it's too difficult to maintain supply amid a recent spike in sales.

Officials say from late March they will stop selling "Fuji-sanroku Tarujuku 50". Sales of the brand make up more than 30 percent of Kirin's 5 domestic whiskies.

Japanese drinkers are driving a boom in whisky-and-soda cocktails. But Kirin points out the liquor takes years to make, and distillers have been struggling to meet demand. Shipments of domestic whiskies have doubled over the past 10 years.

Kirin's rival Suntory has already halted sales of its Hakushu 12-years-old and Hibiki 17-years-old.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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