Hanyu: A Phoenix Rising from the Ashes of Whisky History
Imagine a world where single malt whisky wasn't just Scottish. Enter Hanyu, a Japanese distillery with a story as rich and complex as the whiskey it produces.
Hanyu's roots go back centuries, starting with the Akuto family's sake brewing business in the 1600s. Fast forward to 1941, and Isouji Akuto, the 19th generation, builds a factory to produce whisky. They dabbled in blends before venturing into single malt in the 1980s, just as its popularity was soaring worldwide.
But the whisky road is a patient one. By 2000, the challenges of maturing whisky and a booming market forced the distillery's closure. Thankfully, the story doesn't end there. Enter Ichiro Akuto, Isouji's grandson, who, in a remarkable turn of events, repurchased the maturing stock and launched Ichiro's Malt in 2005. This included the legendary Card Series, which fetched a record-breaking $7 million at auction!
Hanyu Reborn: A New Chapter
The story takes another exciting twist with the recent revival of the Hanyu Distillery itself by Toa Shuzo, a renowned sake producer and one of Ichiro's original investors. This phoenix-like rise promises a return of the coveted Hanyu single malt in all its glory.
The Future of Japanese Whisky: A Golden Age Unfolds
Hanyu's rebirth is a microcosm of the Japanese whisky market itself. While a young player compared to Scotch, Japanese whisky is experiencing explosive growth. Remember the Yamazaki 12 winning a gold medal in 2005? That was a tipping point. Awards, a booming international market, and a subsequent shortage all fueled the fire.
Unprecedented Access: Owning a Piece of Japanese Whisky History
While all investments carry some level of risk, investing in whisky is historically considered to be a lower risk option, certainly less volatile. This is because, unlike stocks or bonds, the value of rare whisky does not rely on the performance of a company nor is it tied up to an index. Hence, it offers true diversification and enhances investors risk/return profile.
For years, Japanese whisky casks have been the holy grail for collectors and investors alike. Unlike Scotch, where cask ownership is a well-established tradition, the Japanese market has remained frustratingly closed off.
Japanese cask whisky is extremely hard to get access to, but because of our prestige network, we have managed to secure a cask from the very first distillation since the reopening in February 2021 and a total of only 40 casks were released in total to outside investors. A rarity indeed.
So enjoy the returns while investing with us, with a possibility to secure one of the most rare casks for your own use/purposes when we are ready to sell it.
Hanyu's story is more than just a distillery closure and rebirth. It's a testament to the enduring legacy of family, tradition,and the pursuit of excellence. Will you be a part of the next chapter?
For professional investors seeking to explore this exciting asset class, NeoMondo.Capital can help you with our investment knowledge and our (licensed) expert network.
Learn more about our services here or book a meeting with us here Calendy.
Japanese Whisky performing strongly on a global basis.
