The Joker: The Crown of Ichiro’s Famous Playing Cards Series

Only at Iron Gate Auctions in Canada.  November 3-10, 2025.

The Joker whisky, crafted by the now silent Hanyu Distillery, is celebrated as the pinnacle of the legendary Ichiro’s Malt Playing Cards Series. This limited collection, conceived by Ichiro Akuto—the grandson of the distillery’s founder—has become a cult favourite among whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Hanyu Distillery, located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, was established in the 1940s, blending traditional Scottish whisky-making techniques with Japanese innovation. Though the distillery closed its doors in 2000, Ichiro Akuto salvaged remaining casks, ensuring Hanyu’s legacy would endure through exceptional bottlings like those found in the Playing Cards Series.

Ichiro’s Playing Cards Series is a collector’s dream.  Beginning in 2005, Ichiro Akuto released a series of single malt whiskies, each representing a playing card in a standard deck. The playing card theme chosen for its universal visual appeal and ease to order a dram at the bar.  Bottled from rare Hanyu casks, the series features various ages, cask types, and flavour profiles from the Ace to King in four suits, plus two Jokers.

The Joker: The Final Card

The Joker whisky, released in 2014, marks the grand finale of the series. Two versions were produced: a coloured label and a monochrome label. The coloured Joker is a vatting of multiple casks, offering a complex nose of dark fruits, spice, and oak, while the monochrome Joker is a single cask bottling, noted for its intensity and depth.

Iron Gate’s November Spirits auction will feature the coloured label of the Joker release.  Bottle #2947 or 3690.  57.7% ABV. Distillations between the 1985 and 2000, the last year the distillery operated.

Own the history of Japanese whisky: Innovative, artisanal, and deeply connected to heritage—a final flourish in Ichiro Akuto’s remarkable playing cards legacy.

Auction starts November 3, 2025.

Register here 

Contact for more Information:

Ajay Bhardwaj, Director Spirits, Iron Gate Auctions
www.irongateauctions.com
Email: ajay@irongate.wine