Hanyu Cask Collection

Founded in 1941 by Isouji Akuto, by the 19th generation of the sake-producing Akuto family, Hanyu Distillery made a significant transition from producing blended whisky to crafting single malt expressions in the 1980s. Although the distillery ceased operations in 2000, its revival by Toa Shuzo has paved the way for a promising resurgence narrative.

The Hanyu Distillery's captivating journey from closure to revival has imbued its products with a rich history, adding allure to its offerings. Notably, the establishment of Ichiro's Malt in 2005 and the release of the renowned Card Series, a highly sought-after collection of Japanese whiskies, showcase the brand's remarkable strength and resilience. A testament to its demand is the remarkable price appreciation at retail One notable example is the Ichiro's Malt Joker release up over 1000% increase since its 2014, as reported by Wine Searcher.

Today, the distillery holds an impressive fourth position on Whisky Stats’ ranking of whisky brand indices, demonstrating its rising popularity and international recognition. To capitalize on this growing demand, the Hanyu team is investing in state-of-the-art production facilities, restarting the production of high-quality new-make spirit destined to become Hanyu’s collectible single-cask whiskies in the future. The casks acquired by Vint will not only feature this new high quality spirit but also includes naming rights, which means any bottling from the casks owned by Vint will be able to include the Hanyu name, thus further leveraging the power of the brand.

This proposition is further buoyed by the robust growth of the Japanese whisky market. Despite its relative youth, the Japanese whisky market has outperformed its more established counterparts, including Scotch, over the past five years. The award-winning success of Yamazaki 12 at an international spirits competition in 2005 marked a turning point, leading to a surge in global demand for Japanese whisky. The Whisky 101 Japanese 100 Index, which measures Japanese whisky as a category, has experienced an impressive 41.81% increase over the past two years alone, attesting to this impressive growth.

In conclusion, investing in this collection of Hanyu casks presents a unique opportunity to partake in the legacy of a historic distillery while tapping into the remarkable growth of the Japanese whisky market. With the distillery's renaissance, the dynamic market conditions, and the growing inaccessibility of private cask ownership, this collection stands as a compelling addition to any wine and spirits portfolio.