New “Whisky – The Final Edition” Book Looks At Iconic Playing Card Japanese Whisky Series

by Gary Carter
March 10, 2022

A new book dedicated to one of the most iconic whisky series ever made will soon hit the shelves. “Whisky – The Final Edition” tells the story of the Playing Card Series from Hanyu and Chichibu Whisky Distilleries in Japan.

This is the third book on the subject of whisky by author Ulf Buxrud, and it’s set to be released on March 15th. Buxrud explained in a prepared statement that “Whisky – The Final Edition” is a tale of a supreme collectible, one of the most enjoyable and valuable whisky series ever made.

A near complete, 54 of 58 versions of the whisky series, for example, was sold at Bonham’s Auction House in Hong Kong in November of 2020 for $1.5 million.

“Whisky - The Final Edition” tells the story of the Playing Card Series from Hanyu and Chichibu Whisky Distilleries in Japan. — “Whisky – The Final Edition” tells the story of the Playing Card Series from Hanyu and Chichibu Whisky Distilleries in Japan. (image via Ulf Buxurd)

The author noted that the book unfolds the story about the Playing Card Series that was distilled by the Akuto family and bottled by Ichiro Akuto-san. And it does so as a full-color, 170-page book, coffee table size.

For instance, one chapter is dedicated to the origin of the Playing Card Series, and each bottle is the object of the art, occupying a full page. And each opposite page contains Buxrud’s 58 tasting notes, technical descriptions and the flip side of the bottles.

All 58 bottle images are from his own Playing Card Series collection.

Other sections of the book comprise the series aftermath, auctions, rules and data, fakes and frauds.

A special chapter called “Passing Time” deals with the experimental mixology of the whisky series and summarizing tasting notes.