Buckle up, we’re about to introduce you to Ichiro Akuto, the man behind some of the world’s most sought-after Japanese whiskies.
Whisky Hall of Famer Ichiro Akuto was born into a family of whisky makers. His grandfather, Isouji Akuto, founded the legendary Hanyu distillery, where Ichiro worked at his family’s distillery.
Hanyu distillery operated from 1941 to 2000. After an economic recession, the distillery stopped operating in 2000. In 2004, the distillery was demolished. Ichiro secured 400 whisky casks from the distillery – and this liquid became some of the whisky world’s most wanted.
What is Hanyu Distillery?
It all starts at the Hanyu distillery. The Akuto family have a long legacy of brewing – brewing sake in Chichibu since 1626. Isouji Akuto built the Hanyu distillery in 1941, and got a license to produce alcohol in 1946.
The distillery began whisky production in the 1980s with stills imported from Scotland and released its first whisky in the 90s. But an economic downturn in the 2000s forced the distillery to close its doors and dismantle its stills in 2004.
Who is Ichiro Akuto?
Ichiro studied at the Tokyo University of Agriculture. After graduating, he set out to get experience in the whisky industry and worked in distilleries in the UK and Japan.
Ichiro also worked at the family’s distillery in 1996. And in 2004, Ichiro got his hands on the last of the distillery’s stock.
Ichiro established Venture Whisky Co. that same year. Under this banner, he created the brand Ichiro's Malt and three years later, he opened Chichibu Distillery.
It was under Ichiro's Malt that he would select and release the whiskies that became the legendary Ichiro’s Full Card Series.
What is Ichiro’s Full Card Series?
Ichiro’s Full Card Series is a continuation of his family’s legacy. Ichiro selected the liquid from those remaining whisky barrels salvaged from the Hanyu distillery.
Released between 2005 and 2014, each bottle represents a playing card. Bottles are scarce, and when they pop up, whisky collectors across the world pounce to get their hands on one of these bottles. And complete sets?
In November 2020, a full set of Hanyu Ichiro Full Card Series sold at Bonhams’ Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky auction in Hong Kong for $1,520,000 USD ($2,170,684.64 AUD) and set a new world record for a whisky series – beating the previous record the collection set a year earlier when it went for $917,000 USD ($1,319,035.73 AUD).
Ichiro’s First Fill Oloroso Single Cask #BB0041
The Whisky Club is proud to present a rare opportunity for our Members. We’ve got a Member-exclusive from this legendary whisky house: Ichiro’s First Fill Oloroso Single Cask #BB0041.
This is the first ever first-fill Oloroso Sherry Ichiro’s single cask to hit Australian shores from Japan’s whiskymaking legend, Ichiro Akuto.
The icon behind the Hanyu card series has selected this single cask, exclusively for Members.
Only 257 bottles exist. While overseas whisky lovers pay $500+ for Ichiro’s single casks, Whisky Club Members can get this exclusive one-off single-cask bottling for $395.
If you’re keen to get a bottle, join the Club free now to get yours.
