Because we enjoy close and longstanding relationships with a variety of leading distilleries and whisky producers, we already have a deep insight into casks and their value in today’s market.

We also know that valuing a whisky cask can’t be rushed and needs careful consideration, which is why we work closely with suppliers, official re-sellers, auction markets and other strategic partners.

As part of our in-depth valuation process, we also consult closely with our fellow whisky experts and leading laboratories to verify the authenticity and quality of every drop and dram.

But we don’t stop there. Our project management service also assists clients with bottling, labelling, packaging, storage and delivery, plus we can help secure sales via our extensive network of partners and private clients.

We produce a standard cask valuation report for those looking to:

• Value or re-value existing casks before sale
• Purchase a whisky cask from a third party
• Obtain a valuation for insurance purposes.

Whatever you’re looking for, we deliver a report with lower and upper price boundary and midpoint to help you see the real value of your cask.

We take a realistic approach to cask valuation and avoid inflating or deflating prices as markets rise and fall. That means we can help sellers and buyers alike in all market conditions.

Here’s a closer look at how we do it:

Stage 1: Research and reference

We start with in-depth market research, contacting producers and distilleries to gather information on the cask and any similar whisky still maturing in their warehouses. We then assess sold and unsold lots in auction markets to gauge the current feeling for comparable whiskies. Finally, we source intelligence from our many data providers to serve as additional reference points.

Stage 2: Pricing and premiums

Once we’ve established the rarity of the whisky and how similar drams are performing, we develop a detailed pricing model. After data cleansing is complete, we standardise all prices into a consistent format, excluding spirit duty, VAT, auction premiums and any other non-relevant overheads. We then either add or remove the relevant bottler premium. Whisky bottled independently is typically valued at 30–50% lower than official bottlings as the master distiller hasn’t overseen the cask throughout its entire maturation cycle. It also implies that the bottler can only mention where the whisky was distilled and must use their own branding on the label.

Stage 3: Curves and casks

For the next stage, we take our standardised data points and plot them on a 2D graph. This enables us to draw a curve that aligns closely with existing pricing and delivers an accurate valuation for your own cask.

tage 4: Report and results

Finally, we produce the cask valuation report, which includes all data points and their sources, prices in their original format, standardised prices and details of similar whiskies. In addition, outputs from the pricing model are presented both as a table and chart, up to the cask’s anticipated age of maturation. The cask’s lower and upper price boundaries are also included.

Although our standard report doesn’t include tasting notes from whisky experts, we’re happy to offer this service.

If you’d like us to do this, we will need one 100ml sample from your cask.