Hanyu Playing Cards

The distillery was founded in 1941 by Isouji Akuto but ceased operations in 2000 and was later demolished in 2004. Ichiro Akuto, Isouji's grandson, rescued the remaining stock of about 400 casks and launched the series in 2005 under his company, Venture Whisky​.

Each bottle in the series features a unique label depicting a playing card, resulting in a total of 58 different labels: 52 for the standard deck and six for jokers and other special cards. The series includes both initial and second bottlings for some cards, reflecting the extended maturation periods​​.

The Hanyu Playing Cards series has become legendary among collectors due to its rarity and the high quality of the whisky. Bottles from the series often fetch high prices at auctions, with some selling for tens of thousands of dollars​ (dekantā)​​ (dekantā)​. The creativity behind the labels, inspired by conversations with bartenders, further adds to the collection's allure and uniqueness​​.

Hanyu Playing Cards series is a prestigious collection that commemorates the legacy of the Hanyu distillery through a blend of exceptional whisky and artistic labeling.