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Hanyu
Hanyu is a malt whisky distillery originally built in the town of the same name by Toa Shuzo Co in 1941. Initially producing sake and shochu, experimentation in whisky-making began in 1946 using a homemade still, but it was not until 1983 that Toa Shuzo Co commissioned the installation of two copper pot stills from Miyake. The company subsequently had to endure several economic difficulties and then a wider recession at the turn of the century, and Hanyu was closed in 2000.
All Hanyu malt produced prior to 2000 was used for blending, however Toa Shuzo released an 8-year-old single malt called Golden Horse Chichibu that year on the advice of its founder's grandson, Ichiro Akuto. He later acquired the remaining stock after its closure and began releasing it under his Ichiro's Malt brand in 2005. The cult status that the distillery achieved as a result is one of the key factors that encouraged Toa Shuzo Co to rebuild Hanyu, and it has been operational again since 2021.
Hanyu distillery
Nishi 4-1-11, Hanyu-shi
Saitamaken
348-0054
Japan
1941
1946
1983
1989
1991
1996
2000
2004
2020
2021
Hanyu distillery is built by Toa Shuzo Co to produce sake and shochu.
Experiments in whisky production are conducted on homemade still.
A pair of Miyake copper pot stills are installed and Scotch-style single malt whisky production begins.
A liquor tax change makes imported Scotch cheaper than domestically produced whisky in Japan.
Struggling to compete with imports, Toa Shuzo Co turns off the stills at Hanyu.
Ichiro Akuto, grandson of the company's founder, comes to work for Toa Shuzo Co.
The first Hanyu single malts are sold under its Golden Horse brand when Golden Horse Chichibu 8-year-old is released.
The stills are fired up again for the spring distilling season, however this is the last time.
Hanyu is closed again.
Toa Shuzo Co is acquired by a shochu producer who divested from whisky entirely. The distillery is dismantled and Golden Horse brand is discontinued.
Ichiro Akuto founds Venture Whisky and acquires the remaining 400 warehoused casks from Hanyu. They are moved to a Sasanokowa Shuzo warehouse.
Toa Shuzo Co announce plans to rebuild Hanyu distillery.
Whisky production resumes at Hanyu for first time since 2000.
Former brands
Blended Malt,
Blended Whisky,
Single Malt
