Torii decided to build the first whisky distillery in Japan in Yamazaki where SEN no Rikyu built his chashitsu (tea-ceremony room), Shimamoto Town, Osaka Prefecture over strong opposition in the company.
鳥井は社内の反対を押し切って、千利休が茶室を設けた大阪府島本町の山崎の地に日本初のウイスキー蒸留所の建設を決定した。