The series consists of 54 Scottish-style malt whiskey bottles, each representing a game card from the famous Hanyu Distillery, which closed its doors almost 20 years ago in 2000. Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of Isuji Akuto, is a descendant of the 19th generation. Brewers and whiskey producers who founded the distillery in 1941, retained 400 premium whiskey barrels before closing the distiller and bottled them for production between 2005 and 2014.
Whiskey record holder
Bonhams Asian director for wine and spirits Daniel Lam says of the collection: “Four years ago, when the Full Card series Hanyu Ichiro set the world auction record for Bonhams, demand for Japanese whiskey is now the highest on the market. It is believed that in the world there are no more than four sets of the Full Card series. Moreover, over the years, many bottles have been either consumed or strictly kept secret, which makes it difficult to collect the complete - and with such a reliable origin - series. ”
It is estimated that a full series of Hanyu Ichiro cards will cost 4,500,000 - 6,000,000 Hong Kong dollars, or approximately 576,158 - 768,210 US dollars. The auction will take place on August 16 at Bonhams in Hong Kong, go to the Bonhams auction page to find out more.
A total of 54 bottles in the Hanyu Ichiro Full Card series.
Past bid
The Full Card series was sold for a record price of HK $ 3.79 million in 2015.
The collection consists of 54 bottles representing each of the playing cards in full packaging. Each “card” was poured into one barrel of premium whiskey, starting from 1985 to 2014, the production of the famous Hanyu closed distillery. In 2015, the Full Card series was offered at Bonhams, which was sold for a record 3,797,500 Hong Kong dollars.
Hanyu Ichiro's Full Card is now available at Club Qing Whiskey Bar in Central Hong Kong. It is believed that in the world there are no more than four sets of the Full Card series. Many bottles were either used or kept strictly secret for many years. One set currently resides in Club Qing's Hong Kong whiskey bar. Fans of Japanese whiskey are welcome to the bar.
Ichiro Akuto
One of the reasons why this series is so in demand on the market is that the Hanyu distillery no longer produces whiskey, since it closed in 2000 after the recession in Japan. Hanyu Distillery was founded in 1941 by Isuji Akuto, a descendant of the 19th generation of a long line of sake brewers, to produce Scottish-style malt whiskey. Before the distillery ceased production in 2000, Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of Isuji, came in to provide 400 barrels of premium whiskey left over from the distillery. An avid whiskey lover, like his grandfather, Ichiro personally chose a valuable amber liquid that will be bottled for each “card” issued between 2005 and 2014 to ensure that the legend of Chania lives on. Ichiro Akuto founded the Chichibu Distillery in 2004 and began producing his famous whiskey in 2008.
A set of five Ichiro card bottles (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 clubs) was offered at Bonhams Hong Kong in 2014.
Due to its rarity, it is almost impossible to get a full set of Ichiro card series. These collection bottles of Japanese whiskey are scattered around the world. Some collectors organize their collection according to the rating of poker combinations, such as straight flush, full house, straight flush. For example, a set of Ichiro card bottles that make up a straight flush rating (Ace, 2, 3, 4, 5 clubs) were offered at Bonhams Hong Kong in 2014 and sold for 159,250 Hong Kong dollars after the prize.
Over the past few years, Japanese whiskey has achieved record sales one by one. Here is another rare opportunity to purchase a coveted and rare collection of Japanese whiskey at the upcoming Bonhams sale in Hong Kong. Hanyu Ichiro's famous Full Card Series collection will be auctioned for Hong Kong 4.5-6 million, and it is expected to set a new world record for the most expensive Japanese whiskey collection.