Cask Guides

Helping you invest

WHAT IS A CASK, AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?

A cask is defined by the Scotch Whisky Association (the governing body protecting Scotch) as ‘an oak barrel not exceeding 700 litres’. The largest typical cask in use is the butt – and in most cases, these have been used in the production of sherry. Those familiar, dark coloured whiskies are likely to have been matured in one of these casks. The cask is the main defining factor in the entire style of a whisky, with many experts agreeing that as much as 80% of a whisky’s characteristic flavour comes from the wood.

Why invest in cask whisky

GLOBAL GROWTH

Between 2010 and 2017, exports of Scotch Whisky increased by 44.5% and, in 2017, the export value rose from £1.02bn to £1.17bn. When it comes to Scotch Whisky, production is still not able to meet the ever-growing demand.
MOST EXPENSIVE CASK EVER SOLD

In November 2019, a cask of Macallan 1989, ex-sherry Hogshead, sold at auction in Hong Kong for £441,000 and set the new world record. It broke the record set in 2018 by a cask of 1987 Macallan sold in the same Hong Kong auction for £375,000!
RETURN ON INVESTMENT

In 2019, rare whisky topped the Frank Knight Luxury Investment Index, beating wine, coins and classic cars to first place with the 10-year growth of whisky at 584%.