Hong Kong – Bonhams, the international auction house, presents a rare opportunity to avid whisky aficionados to acquire the most coveted and rarest collection of Japanese Whisky with the sale of the Hanyu Ichiro's Full Card Series in its forthcoming Fine & Rare Wine and Whisky auction on 16 August 2019 in Hong Kong.

Carrying an estimate of HK$4,500,000 – 6,000,000, the celebrated collection comprises 54 bottles representing each of the playing card 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. 

In 2015, Bonhams was the first auction house to sell the Full Card series, which set the world record for the most expensive Japanese whisky collection at HK$3,797,500 – a record that Bonhams still holds to date and anticipates to surpass with the current lot.

Daniel Lam, Bonhams' Director of Wine & Spirits, Asia, comments, "Four years since the Hanyu Ichiro's Full Card Series set the world auction record at Bonhams, the current market demand is at its strongest for Japanese Whisky. It is believed that no more than four sets of Full Card Series exist in the world. Over the years, moreover, many bottles have either been consumed or strictly kept in private, making it harder than ever to assemble a complete – and with such trusted provenance – series."

Founded in 1941 by Isouji Akuto, a 19th 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.

OTHER SALE HIGHLIGHTS – JAPANESE WHISKY

Chichibu Single Malt Whisky

In the spirit of his family legacy, Ichiro Akuto established Venture Whisky Co. in Chichibu City in 2004, and three years later opened the Chichibu Distillery. Since then the Chichibu Distillery has been producing award winning Single Malt Whisky and drawing significant interest on a global scale.

In Bonhams May 2019 sale, a total of 18 lots of Chichibu Single Malt whiskies were 100% sold with over half exceeding high estimates, reflecting a strong market appetite. For this forthcoming sale, Bonhams responds to this demand with an offering of over 30 individual bottles, including:

• hichibu-Galaxy Express 999-2010-#711 (1)
Speyside Region Malt-Galaxy Express 999-18 year old-#1027 (1)
2 bottles
Estimate: HK$23,000–28,000

• Chichibu New Born-2008-#82
1 bottle
Estimate: HK$10,000–14,000

OTHER SALE HIGHLIGHTS – SCOTCH WHISKY

Highland Park 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Estimate: HK$ 200,000 – 260,000

Directly from the Highland Park Distillery, the 50 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky is the distillery's oldest and most prestigious release for nearly a decade. With a very limited release of only 274 bottles, each one is individually numbered and hand-signed by Whisky Maker Max McFarlane.

As part of the total package under the auction offer, this lot also includes an immersion trip to the very heart of Highland Park Distillery. The tour accommodates 2 guests who will be looked after on the ground by dedicated Highland Park colleagues on a 3-day visit program. Refer to the department for further details.
 
Macallan Lalique Genesis 72 Year Old Decanter
Estimate: HK$ 800,000 – 120,000

The oldest aged statement of Macallan whisky to have been ever released in the market.

OTHER SALE HIGHLIGHTS – WINE

From an esteemed private collector, we are presenting a total of 47 lots of wine with a total estimate starting at HK$1.25 million. Highlights include:

• 9 vintages of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Le Montrachet including the legendary vintage 1985

• 8 vintages of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti La Tâche in peerless condition

• A superb line up of star Bugundian producers including the Armand Rousseau, Liger-Belair, and Domaine Ramonet

• An exceptional selection from the right bank such as Château Petrus 1989, Château Le Pin 1999, and Château Ausone 2000