Whisky Investment UK® is an award-winning company dedicated to the wholesale of cask whisky. The firm is approved and licenced by HMRC to store both bulk and casked whisky in duty suspense at any approved Scottish warehouse. We speak to Darren Hughes to find out more about the appetite for this unusual investment as the firm celebrates success in the UK Enterprise Awards 2023. Dear WIUK, As you are aware, it has been a long journey from initially being nominated, undergoing the research and judging stages, and finally being recognized for an award. We are now at the stage where your award ..read more

Although owning a cask of whisky is fundamentally about leaving the cask in a secure bonded warehouse to mature, having a sample of your whisky is also a wonderful way of enjoying whisky cask ownership. Whisky Investment UK® offer our clients the opportunity to receive samples of their whisky in the following sample sizes 100ml, 200ml, 500ml and 700ml. Samples start from just £35 including posting a packaging. Clients can take a sample as long as the whisky has matured for a minimum of 3 years and 1 day. The sample will be cask strength, so adding water is advised especially if your c ..read more

Introduction: Climate change has become a pressing concern with far-reaching consequences across various industries. One industry significantly affected is Scotch whisky production. The distinctive character of Scotch whisky is intimately connected to its production environment, making it vulnerable to the changing climate. This article explores the effects of climate change on Scotch whisky and highlights the potential implications for this cherished beverage. Water Source and Quality: Climate change can disrupt the availability and quality of water, a crucial component in Scotch whisky prod ..read more

From the many enquiries we receive our clients understand the whisky distilling process, but don’t have much knowledge in respect of the purchasing process?  This is the question a lot of clients ask, especially if they are looking at whisky casks for the very first time. Below is Whisky Investment UK’s 6-part guide to purchasing whisky. What potential buyers need to consider and what to look out for. Whisky has been around for 500 years so, there is never the need to rush into buying a cask without knowing all the facts so you can make an informed due diligence decision. 1 ..read more

Degrading peat is estimated to be responsible for about 5% of UK carbon emissions, prompting debate over whether banning its use is the answer. “You’ve heard of ‘tree-huggers’ protecting woodlands, We ‘bog-trotters’ love the wetlands.” The words of agile ecologist Andrew McBride, from the Land and Habitats consultancy, as he strides across a marsh in Aberdeenshire. With spectacular eyebrows and a gnarled wooden staff, notched along the shaft as a depth gauge, he looks every inch the swampland Gandalf. But he insists there’s no magic to restoring bogs: just add water. "The point of th ..read more

New aging test could be gold standard for whisky producers Researchers at a Scottish university have found a way to use tiny particles of gold to measure the maturity of whisky, which could help distillers with one of the key challenges in the production process. Scotch whisky last year accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports, 22% of UK food and drink exports, and 1.4% of all UK goods exports Chemists and bioscientists from the University of Glasgow developed the test, which harnesses a unique property of cask-aged whisky to measure its maturity. Each variety of whisky gain ..read more

At Whisky investment UK (Part of the Silvercrest Group of companies) we have talked a lot about applying a safety net to investments. As a vintage Whisky distributor and as we are also heavily involved in the energy markets and the supply of energy to Whisky distilleries and bonded warehouse operators, we know a little about what we do. And we think we are going into a pretty nasty #recession (or are almost in one at the time of writing 13.05.22). Staff layoffs are likely coming house prices we believe will fall. The demand destruction is everywhere due to the largest monetary tightening in ..read more

The Macallan 1988 is being sold by Whisky Hammer. A rare “forgotten” cask of whisky, bought for £5,000 more than 30 years ago, is expected to set a world record when it is sold in an online auction. The 374-litre cask, originally filled on May 5 1988, has been held in bond at the Macallan Distillery in Moray for almost 34 years. The whisky is being sold in an online auction It was bought on a whim by an expat who then forgot about it for more than three decades until they were reminded by Macallan that it was still maturing in the warehouse. Bids for the rare cask have already reached 17 ..read more

A drinks firm is planning to build a new carbon-neutral, whisky distillery after winning a major new investment. Edinburgh-based, specialist, consumer-brand investor Inverleith LLP has just secured a majority stake in the Eden Mill St Andrews craft gin and Scotch whisky company. The drinks firm plans to build a new whisky distillery in St Andrews, with founder and managing director, Paul Miller, describing it as a “really exciting moment” for the business. He stated: “Having secured Inverleith LLP as the majority investor into the business, we will be able to realise ..read more

Distillery numbers at record high, with exports on track to match or pass pre-pandemic levels Scotch whisky last year accounted for 75% of Scottish food and drink exports, 22% of UK food and drink exports, and 1.4% of all UK goods exports A whisky cask is inspected at Speyside Cooperage in Craigellachie, Scotland. It was among the key drivers of an increase of almost 20 per cent in UK drink exports to £7.6bn in the year, according to advisory firm Hazlewoods. Data from the SWA show that Scotch exports are on track to at least match their 2019 level of £4.9bn, having reached £2.2bn by t ..read more