Hanyu 1988
2005 Ichiro's Vintage Single Malt
The pot-stills and other whisky equipment were completely dismantled in 2004 because of a change of ownership. Fortunately the stock and facilities were saved by Ichiro, the grandson of the founders of the Hanyu distillery. His new distillery is now situated on the hill of Chichibu, where he was born. He started making whisky again in February 2008.
This rare 1988 Vintage Single Malt from Hanyu has been aged in a single Hogshead cask and later bottled in an unusual screw cap bottle in 2005.
The loss of the Hanyu may have played a part in creating and establishing Chichibu, but we’ve only come to realise the loss of this distillery in recent times. Interestingly, we might be seeing a new Hanyu soon, much like Brora and Port Ellen being revived. A new project has been revealed and is currently seeking funding under the Hanyu name. This will be going so far as to recreate the original stills from existing blueprints. In 1946 the distillery was granted a license for making whisky but single malt wasn’t produced on-site until 1980. Even then, production only lasted 20 year and was shut down due to financial struggles and – believe it or not – the lack of popularity of Japanese whisky. Hanyu has endured thanks to various releases as Japanese whisky has been recognised around the world. Some of the most desirable whiskies come from Hanyu with its 54 bottle playing card series being seen as one of the most desirable and a full set recently fetching £755,000. The original Hanyu might be out of reach of most people but let’s hope for a successful resurrection.
