Hanyu Yuzuru Playing Card Series Ace of Clubs
Regular price $999,999.00(Get a quote now)
Why is the Ace of Clubs the starting card for full-set collectors?
In the Hanyu playing card series, the four Aces are the starting goal for every full-set collector, and Clubs is the least circulated suit among the four. Because of this, the Ace of Clubs consistently receives high auction interest, with its transaction performance outperforming the Diamonds series for several consecutive years. For sellers currently holding this card, its rarity itself is a bargaining chip.
About Hanyu and Ichiro's Malt
The Hanyu Distillery, located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, officially ceased production and closed in 2000. Ichiro Akuto then took over the raw spirits left by his father, bottling them individually as single casks. This marks one of the most iconic chapters in the history of Japanese single malt whisky collection. The most distinguishing feature of the playing card series is that each card corresponds to one cask – each card represents an independent single cask, and once the liquid in the cask is sold out, it no longer exists. This is the fundamental reason why it cannot be restocked.
Ace of Clubs Specification and Positioning
| Item | Characteristics of this Card |
| Card Rank | Ace (Clubs suit) |
| Distillation Year | Series generally distilled in 1986 (as per bottle inscription) |
| Cask Type Description | Primarily hogshead / bourbon refill as core cask type (mostly single cask, cask strength) |
| Rarity Level | Extremely Rare |
| Series Tier | Ace is the lead card of each suit. Full-set collectors usually start with the four Aces. Market exposure is higher than lower-numbered cards of the same suit. |
Market Depth of the Card Series
The Ichiro's Malt Card Series is one of the most famous single cask series in the history of Japanese whisky. After the Hanyu distillery ceased production, Ichiro bottled 54 casks corresponding to 54 playing cards in batches, completing the release between 2005 and 2014, thereby closing the entire series.
The complete Card Series was hammered at HK$7,192,000 at Bonhams Hong Kong in 2019, setting an auction record for Japanese whisky at the time, and remains the most frequently cited transaction benchmark for the Card Series.
Main Factors Affecting the Buy-Back Price of Ace of Clubs
| Assessment Item | Optimal Condition | Common Deductions |
| Fill Level (Liquid Level) | Located at the ideal position on the bottle neck, no significant drop. | Liquid level sunken, suspected leakage. |
| Cork / Seal | Cork or screw cap healthy, seal intact. | Cork cracked, previously opened and re-sealed. |
| Label Printing | Single club motif and "ACE OF CLUBS" text clear, sharp borders. | Text blurry, fuzzy borders, yellowing. |
| Cask and Bottle Number | Cask number clearly engraved, corresponds to bottle number. | Engraving unclear, number inconsistent with outer box. |
| Original Wooden Box and Certificate | Original wooden box and certificate complete. | Missing box, missing certificate. |
Any of the above deficiencies will only result in a graded markdown of the valuation, not a rejection of the item – even without the box or certificate, the liquid itself is rare, and we will still assess it based on the current market range.
Selling Process
- Online Preliminary Valuation: Send multi-angle photos of the bottle (front, back, neck, bottom, outer box) via WhatsApp 46135750, specifying the version and accessory condition. The team will reply with a reference price on the same day.
- Version Confirmation: Compare the label printing layers, cask number engraving, and bottle number against recent transaction ranges.
- Face-to-Face Transaction: Free door-to-door service in Hong Kong, Kowloon, and the New Territories. Payment in cash or FPS immediately after appraisal, with one-on-one handling throughout the process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do you still buy Ace of Clubs without the original wooden box or certificate?
Yes, we do. The Card Series is bottled as single casks, and the rarity of the liquid itself is the core value. Missing boxes or certificates will result in a graded markdown in valuation, but we will still purchase them at the current market reference price.
Q: How can I tell if my Ace of Clubs is authentic?
The most direct way is to check the label printing layers, the sharpness of the border of the single club motif, and whether the engraved cask number matches the bottle number. Some fakes may have blurry text or fuzzy borders. Send us multi-angle photos, and we can make a preliminary assessment.
Q: Why do quotes vary slightly over time?
After Hanyu ceased production, it is impossible to restock. The Card Series is an actively traded item, and transaction prices fluctuate during different periods. Our quotes reflect the current market range, not outdated prices from several months ago.
Instant Quote on WhatsApp: 46135750
Other Hanyu Playing Cards
Different card ranks, cask types, and distillation years within the same series will directly affect the valuation. You can pre-match the version before selling:
- Hanyu Playing Card Series Jack of Diamonds Buy-Back Price
- Hanyu Playing Card Series Black Joker Buy-Back Price
- Hanyu Playing Card Series King of Clubs Buy-Back Price
- Hanyu Playing Card Series 10 of Diamonds Buy-Back Price
- Hanyu Playing Card Series (Single Card Purchase) Buy-Back Price
Related pages: Recycling Services Description, Recycling FAQ, Hanyu Models List.
