Cask Trade announces the launch of Beyond the Cask – an exploration of the cask marketplace.

Combining years of whisky industry experience with data driven insights, the first edition of the new annual report provides a realistic view on the industry and aims to help people navigate the buying and selling of casks with confidence.

This must-read guide for whisky lovers and potential investors highlights some of the pitfalls to avoid, offers advice on what to look out for, and shines a spotlight on the rise of English Whisky.

Getting real

The boom in the cask trading market has arguably been great for the sector, but has ultimately moved the goal posts for investors.

Like any alternative investment, the cask whisky market has grown over time; the prices have moved up and potential profits squeezed. There is still money to be made, but this has rarely been a short-term venture and people need to be prepared for a longer investment.

CEO of Cask Trade Simon Aron says the company’s DNA is one of trust and transparency. His passionate and knowledgeable team avoid false promises, instead giving open and candid support. These credentials that were rewarded with a placing in The Sunday Times Top 100 companies of Britain in 2023 and a listing in the prestigious Startups 100 Index this year.

“We believe it’s important to be open about the changing trends in the market and, following a three year bull run, we expect a consolidation phase in the short-term with the long-term growth intact,” explains Simon, who adds: “What a cask whisky portfolio still provides, like many luxury goods, is a collection that is tangible and engaging as a product. What sets cask ownership apart is that it creates a community that knows and loves its craft and skill.”

Debunking myths

Beyond the Cask offers interesting insights and even goes as far as busting a few myths about whisky. It emphasises the importance of naming rights and warns these should not be overlooked; explains older is not always better when considering the age of whisky and dispels the belief that distilleries buy back whisky.

The guide also offers advice and tips on the Do’s and Don’ts for investing in 2024 and shares some of Cask Trade’s own data on examples of casks from top performing distilleries as well as a list of factors that can have influence on the brand equity of a distillery.

To download a copy of Beyond the Cask click here.

ABOUT CASK TRADE

Founded in 2018 by Simon Aron in partnership with several of the world’s foremost whisky masters, including Keeper of the Quaich Colin Hampden-White, Cask Trade buys and sells exceptional cask whiskies.

The company is unique because it owns all the casks it sells, giving the customer 100% transactional guarantee. Cask Trade only sells whole casks: it is not a whisky cask broker and it does not offer fractional sales.

A passionate whisky collector for more than 20 years, Simon Aron suffered many false promises from whisky investment companies and this drove his ambition to create a real and trustworthy marketplace for whisky collectors and investors, and bottlers:

The company’s casks are held in the best HMRC bonded warehouses, regularly visited and approved by Cask Trade whisky masters. All stock holdings have a complete paper trail.
•    Delivery orders from supplier to Cask Trade
•    Invoices for transfer of ownership, storage insurance, re-gauging, sampling or movement
•    HMRC-issued WOWGR (warehouse keepers, warehouse premises, owner of goods and registered consigners): a fully regulated and closely monitored license requiring due diligence on suppliers as well as customers.
•    HMRC-issued AWRS Alcohol Wholesaler Registration Scheme: Licenced to wholesale, bottle and retail.

Included in its extensive list of customer services, Cask Trade’s rigorous processes means that the company will guarantee to buy back from its clients the casks they buy from and have had managed by Cask Trade.
It also offers:
•    Regular sampling and re-gauging of casks
•    Re-racking (sherry wine, port etc)
•    Estimates of bottles and strength in cask (effects of angels’ share 0ver years of maturations)
•    Financial modelling for each cask based on age and rarity with estimated % returns
•    Costings for bottling, labelling and shipping (duty & tax)
•    Regularly updated cask ownership guide which includes statistics from two authoritative third parties (independent of Cask Trade)
•    Cask Trade will arrange for clients to receive samples of their whiskies and visit their barrels(s), upon request – wherever possible.

Cask Trade started the first live auction website dedicated to exceptional whisky casks: auctionyourcask.com.

Hosted four times a year and helping private owners/investors sell their cask to independent bottlers and other investors all around the world. All casks will be re-gauged ready for auction and a full 70cl sample will be drawn so that bidders have the opportunity to try the whisky before they buy, wherever possible.
Cask Trade validate all the sellers and confirm proof of ownership and the history of the cask enabling bidders to safely buy. With complete transparency and no sellers’ fee customers receive the actual hammer price. The low buyers’ fee of 15% + VAT offer the opportunity to buyers, trade or private, to buy rare casks.

https://www.casktrade.com

https://www.auctionyourcask.com

DISCLAIMER
Like any investment, the value of casks can rise and fall