History

A Brief History
of Hanyu

The Akuto family had been producing the finest sake for almost 350 years in the town of The Chichibu, before they turned their attention to whisky. In 1941, the family founded the first Hanyu Distillery in the Japanese city of the same name. Under the guidance of Isouji Akuto, the distillery began to produce blends for the growing Japanese market. But in the 1980s and 1990s, conscious of the extraordinary quality of the spirit emerging form their stills, they began to produce what was destined to become one the world’s finest single malts.

However, as the 20th century came to an end, Japan witnessed a dwindling demand for whisky. Alongside financial challenges, this decreased demand painted a bleak picture for many distilleries worldwide at the time. Hanyu was not immune and ceased producing whisky in 2000. The old Hanyu distillery was finally demolished in 2004 under a new management and ownership.

But very few people realised that Hanyu had an extraordinary treasure sitting in its warehouse and a legacy that would one day return.

A Brief History of Hanyu

Inspired by the efforts in Scotland to rejuvenate its lost distilleries such as Brora, Rosebank & Port Ellen and the growing international appreciation of Japanese single malt, Toa Shuzo was determined to continue the work to revive the old distillery.

President of Toa Shuzo – Mr. Yasuhisa Nakata (left) &Hanyu Distillery Master Distiller - Mr. Hideto Shimazaki (right)

Luckily, many of the original craftsman were still alive and able to contribute their knowledge, while drawings of the original pot still at the distillery helped to recreate an exact replica using the same manufacturer who had cast the original stills.

The two new Miyake Industries pot stills were joined by a mash tun and stainless-steel washback. The new distillery would have a bigger capacity, but everything else would remain the same. Shimazaki-san had worked in the former distillery before it was closed and had kept the ‘recipe’ of the old Hanyu Single Malt. While the technology had moved on, Shimazaki-san was driven by the same goal that had defined the glory days of first Hanyu Single Malt:

‍“The pursuit of perfection”

In February 2021 a new chapter in the history of Hanyu Distillery began. After a long drought of 20 years, Hanyu is producing Single Malt Whisky again.

Hanyu Whisky - Historical Landmark

Year

Milestones

1600s

Akuto Family produced Sake in Chichibu town

1941

Isouji Akuto built a whisky distillery in Hanyu town

1946

Received License to distill whisky

1980

Installed 2 Pot Still produced by Miyake Manufacturing to produce Single Malt Whisky

2000

Change of ownership and Old Hanyu Distillery Closed

2004

• Old Hanyu Distillery was demolished
‍
• Venture Whisky, a firm established by the Hanyu distillery founder's grandson, Ichiro Akuto bought about 400 Casks of Hanyu Whisky and launched an Independent Bottling called "Ichiro Malt Card Series"

2015

Bonham auctioned 54 bottles of Ichiro Card Series produced by the closed Hanyu Distillery for a World Record price of USD485,000

2019

• Bonham auctioned 54 bottles of Ichiro Card Series produced by the closed Hanyu Distillery for a World Record price of USD920,000.

• The construction of the New Hanyu Distillery project started on the same site of the former distillery. The two Miyake Industries pot stills at the new distillery are the exact recreations of the pot stills used by Hanyu Distillery in its past life.

2020

Bonham auctioned 54 bottles of Ichiro Card Series produced by the closed Hanyu Distillery for a World Record price of USD1,520,000.

2021

• The Rebirth New Hanyu Distillery led by Master Whisky Maker Mr. Hideto Shimazaki who worked at the former Hanyu Distillery, started production.

• The Hanyu Distillery primarily filled its new made spirits into 1st Fill Bourbon Cask.

• Ownership of Hanyu Single Malt Whisky Cask is only possible through on a unique Tokyo based Blockchain Platform, Unicask.

2022

Maximum annual production of Hanyu Distillery is about 70,000 RLA - 600 Bourbon size (195Litter) casks making ownership a rarity.

2023

Acker auctioned a cask of Hanyu Single Malt Whisky matured in Bourbon wood with premium for USD50,500 (distilled in 2021), USD45,500 (distilled in 2022) in and USD41,000 (distilled in 2023).

2024

The Hanyu Distillery adopted more innovations by maturing a significant number of casks in Sherries ( Oloroso, Pedro Ximenez, Palo Cortado, Palomino Fino, Sherry Cream) and some Japanese sourced wood such as Kuri, Hinoki, Sugi, Sakura and Mizunara.

2025

• The Hanyu Distillery made its 1st Release, called "Genesis" after staying quiet for 25 years.

• Only 2021 "Genesis" bottles were released to both the Japanese & International market to symbolize its Rebirth in Year 2021.

• The Visitor Centre of Hanyu Distillery is open for visits and tasting.

A Brief Historyof Hanyu

A Brief History of Hanyu

Hanyu Whisky - Historical Landmark

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A Brief History
of Hanyu