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Bonhams offers ‘world’s rarest’ Japanese whisky set
Auctioneer Bonhams is offering a one-of-a-kind signed set of Hanyu Ichiro’s Malt Full Card Series next month, which could fetch up to €1.2 million (US$1.3m).
Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr in Paris will sell one of the world’s rarest collections of Japanese whisky during an online sale from 12-29 November.
Only a few sets of Hanyu’s Malt Full Card Series exist in the world with this particular collection being unique, as each bottle has been signed by master distiller Ichiro Akuto, who selected the liquid bottled for the series.
Carrying an estimate of between €700,000 (US$757,000) and €1.2m, the set includes 54 bottles that represent each playing card in a full pack.
Each ‘card’ was bottled from a single cask of whisky ranging in production years from 1985 until 2000 – the year Hanyu distillery closed.
Amayès Aouli, Bonhams global head of wine and spirits, said: “As a pioneer in spirits at auction, Bonhams holds multiple world records for the Hanyu Ichiro Malt Full Card set series. We are honoured to offer this exceptionally rare collection once more.
“This is an incredible opportunity to acquire the most collectable of Japanese whiskies, with excellent provenance. For each bottle to be personally signed by the master distiller, Ichiro Akuto, makes this set truly unique.”
In 2015, Bonhams was the first auction house to sell the Full Card series, which set the world record for the most valuable Japanese whisky collection at HK$3.8m (US$488,740). The set then broke two new records at Bonhams in 2019 (HK$7.2m/US$926,000) and then a year later when it sold for HK$11.9m (US$1.5m).
Clément Gaillard, Bonhams spirits specialist, added: “With only a finite number produced, it is one of the most sought-after whisky collections across the globe. To own this series is to own an extraordinary piece of whisky history.”
Hanyu was founded by Isouji Akuto, a 19th-generation descendant of a long line of sake brewers, with the aim of producing Scotch-style malt whisky.
Ichiro, grandson of Isouji, secured most of the casks of whisky left from the distillery upon its closure – approximately 400 – which were used for the Full Card series.
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