Hot off the presses.

BONHAMS HONG KONG SETS NEW WORLD AUCTION RECORD FOR A JAPANESE WHISKY COLLECTION AS HANYU ICHIRO’S FULL CARD SERIES SOLD AT ‘FINE & RARE WINE AND WHISKY SALE’ FOR HK$7.19MILLION/ US$917,000/ £755,000

Hong Kong, 16 August 2019            Moments ago, at Bonhams Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky Sale in Hong Kong, Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series commanded the price of HK$7,192,000 (US$ 917,000/ £755,000).
Sold to an Asian female collector, the prized lot established a new world auction record for a Japanese whisky collection, nearly doubling the previous record of HK$3,797,500 (US$484,000) – also set by Bonhams Hong Kong in 2015.

About Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series

The celebrated collection comprises 54 bottles representing each of the playing cards in a full pack. Each ‘card’ was bottled from a single cask of premium whisky ranging in production years from 1985 to 2014 from the acclaimed closed distillery of Hanyu.

Founded in 1941 by Isouji Akuto, a 19^th generation descendant of a long line of sake brewers to produce Scotch-style malt whisky, the Hanyu distillery ceased production in 2000. But not before Ichiro Akuto, grandson of Isouji, stepped in to secure the 400 premium whisky casks left from the distillery. An avid whisky lover like his grandfather, Ichiro personally selected the prized amber liquid to be bottled for each ‘card’ released between 2005 and 2014, ensuring that the Hanyu legend lives on.

Hanyu Ichiro’s Full Card Series

Estimate: HK$4,500,000 – 6,000,000
Sold for HK$7,192,000 (US$917,000)
**New World Auction Record For A Japanese Whisky Collection**<

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*Estimates do not include buyer’s premium. Prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.

NOTES 

Bonhams, founded in 1793, is one of the world’s largest and most renowned auctioneers, offering fine art and antiques, motor cars and jewellery. The main salerooms are in London, New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong, with auctions also held in Knightsbridge, Edinburgh, Paris, San Francisco and Sydney. With a worldwide network of offices and regional representatives in 22 countries, Bonhams offers advice and valuation services in 60 specialist areas. For a full list of forthcoming auctions, plus details of Bonhams specialist departments, please visit bonhams.com. bonhams.com