Shinjiro Torii, Suntory’s founder who is Nobuhiro’s great-grandfather, set about building Japan’s first malt whisky distillery, the Yamazaki Distillery in Osaka Prefecture, in fall 1923.

His perseverance paid off. Fukuyo, the fifth-generation chief blender responsible for the taste of Suntory whiskies since 2009, was recognized as Master Blender of the Year at the prestigious ...