Frequently Asked Questions
According to the Global Whisky Market, the whisky cask business is expected to reach USD$95.9 billion by 2026, up from USD$61.7 billion in 2019. Financial experts anticipate a considerable increase in demand that will continue through to 2030. Since 2021, the alternative investment industry has expanded tremendously and consistently. Whisky is an alternative investment that is not dependent on the global economy, which is why many investors choose to invest.
We have a varied selection that changes regularly as the whisky cask business is fast-moving. It is best to contact us for an updated stock list.
According to the statistics, generated using HRMC (His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs) export data, the value of Scotch Whisky exports increased globally by 4.4% to £4.91 billion, with increases in 106 of its international markets. The export of 70cl bottles climbed as well, reaching 1.31 billion, or an increase of 2.4%. Africa and Asia saw the largest value gains in exports, with 9.8% and 11.3%, respectively. Some 44 bottles of Scotch whisky are exported every second of every day.
We only sell casks that are reputable — our UK division manages supply and ensures that it is up to standard. All the whisky is produced from high quality single malt and grain, and is made by reputable distillers. We take pride in the fact that we have long-established relationships with a host of Scottish whisky distilleries — from the Highlands to the Lowlands — all of whom have casks of fresh-fill, 3-year-old, 8-year-old, 10-year-old, 12-year-old casks and others for investment.
Whisky gets better and more valuable as it ages in the cask. It takes a specialist to buy whisky in casks instead of bottles. Whisky doesn’t age in the bottle as wine does. The taste of Scotch Whisky won’t change once it’s in a bottle. The “age” written on the bottle is how long it has been in the cask to get better. Even if the bottle is kept for decades, its “age” doesn’t change. Once it’s in a bottle, a 10-year-old whisky will always be a 10-year-old whisky.
With your initial whisky cask purchase, you receive 5 years of storage and insurance. Clients can store casks indefinitely. After the first 5 years, WCC offers competitively priced extensions for durations of your choice, like 5, 10, or 15 years. All casks are fully insured by the bonded warehouse, with coverage from Lloyds of London and other specialised insurers.
The casks must be stored in HMRC regulated bonded warehouses in Scotland. The casks are are not allowed to leave that warehouse until they are bottled.
Over the long term, the whisky casks give an average return of 14-18% per annum. This is due to the popularity of whisky and how well it sells globally. Prices for collectible and rare whisky casks have reached all-time highs.
Even though past performance is not guaranteed, there is more demand than ever for high-quality whisky. In a recent Knight Frank wealth report, expert financiers named whisky as the best alternative investment.
Some 138 distilleries are now in operation in Scotland, creating some legendary whiskies that have been fetching jaw-dropping rates at auction.
If WCC were to become insolvent, you’d still own the cask you purchased. The storage and insurance fees have already been prepaid. Should it become necessary, you’ll be able to find a different company to help you sell your whisky.
Yes, it is. When you invest in whisky, you get the satisfaction of having an actual, physical product as security. It also helps spread out the risks of your other investments. All of the casks are fully insured and kept in Scotland in bonded warehouses regulated by HMRC.
Comprehensive quality controls are done before the whisky is filled into the cask. Once the whisky is in the cask it is rare for it to spoil and any spirit quality problems are almost certainly due to a subpar cask which can be sequestered before blending or bottling. Whisky Cask Club customers are protected from any quality issues by our standard commercial arrangement with suppliers.
In the improbable event of the distillery going bust. It would have no impact on your casks. Your barrels only provide a storage solution and the distillery has no lien over them. We would move your barrels to a 3rd Party Bonded Warehouse if needed.
Casks can be filled for the first time or filled again. “First fill” refers to a cask used to age Scotch for the first time. If it is used more than once, it is called a “refill” cask.
The Whisky Cask Club Pte Ltd is a Singapore ACRA registered and regulated company, UEN 202215310M. The registered address is 1 North Bridge Road, #18-06, High Street Centre, Singapore, 179094. Our office address is 168 Robinson Road, #20-01 Capital Tower, Singapore, 068912
Whisky casks are sold ‘over the counter’ (OTC). The pricing is typically determined by the last, similar, cask sold. There are several sites that have various indecises which are a good indicator of market performance. Rare Whisky 101 and the Knight Frank Luxury Index are good places look
The costs to start an investment at Whisky Casks Club are low and depend on how many casks you buy and how much they cost. There are no other costs aside from storage and insurance.
We sell both used and new casks because each client has different requirements. We include storage and insurance with purchases.
Yes, the minimum investment period is one year. There are other terms and conditions which can be found here
You may sell your cask at any time after one year. We recommend holding your cask for at least three years and up to ten years or more if possible.
We tend to stock some renowned brands, and they will trade at a premium over the others. However this can be not essentially a good indicator of final returns, and like stocks and shares, it’s not obvious which is the winner. Most investors choose a spread of whisky casks. Time is the critical factor. From experience, we know that if we hold on to a cask for at least five years, the returns will be much higher.
Your cask has five years of storage and insurance included in the price. You won’t have to pay any additional fees during that time.
Only if you are a UK resident. If you are a Singapore resident there is no CGT.
FACTS AND FIGURES
Did you know that there 44 bottles of Scotch Whisky exported every second to markets all over the world?
Find out more about the amazing stats behind the industry!
- 44 bottles (70cl @40% ABV) of Scotch Whisky are shipped from Scotland to around 180 markets around the world each second, totalling over 1.3bn every year
- Laid end to end those bottles would stretch about 377,000kms – that’s 98% of the distance to the moon!
- In 2021, Scotch Whisky exports were worth £4.5bn
- In 2021, Scotch Whisky accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports, 22% of all UK food and drink exports, and 1.4% of all UK goods exports
- The Scotch Whisky industry provides £5.5bn in gross value added (GVA) to the UK economy
- More than 11,000 people are directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry in Scotland and over 42,000 jobs across the UK are supported by the industry
- 7,000 of these jobs in rural areas of Scotland providing vital employment and investment to communities across the Highlands and Islands
- Around 90% of barley requirements of the industry are sourced in Scotland
- In 2019, there were 2.2 million visits to Scotch Whisky distilleries, making the industry the third most popular tourist attraction in Scotland
- Some 22 million casks lie maturing in warehouses in Scotland waiting to be discovered – that is around 12bn 70cl bottles
- To be called Scotch Whisky, the spirit must mature in oak casks in Scotland for at least 3 years
- There are currently 138 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across Scotland
All figures relate to Jan-Dec 2021 unless stated.
Source: scotch-whisky.org.uk
