Whisky cask ownership can appeal to people for many reasons. Quite apart from the fact that it may turn into a tidy windfall, it also enables people to indulge a fascination with the amber dew itself. Many an investor likes nothing more than a wee dram now and again.
For some, whisky is synonymous with Scotland, even to the point where the stuff is spelled differently from the Irish version (whiskey). Notwithstanding that there are famous whiskies from elsewhere, (Jack Daniels being the most notable bourbon, for instance), there are still many who won’t look beyond the Highlands, Islands and occasionally the Lowlands.
However, that would be to overlook so many of the great whiskies from around the world, many of which come from unexpected places.
Not many would be looking to the opposite side of the planet for a good whisky. But, as The Manual notes, there are plenty to be found in Australia. It recently highlighted the fact that the oldest Australian Whisky has been made available, a 24-year-old produced by Sullivan’s Cove. The Tasmanian distillery was just five years old when this one went into the barrel.
The makers are pretty sure that this will be highly sought after, with a limited edition of 335 bottles expected to fetch AU$2,500 (£1,300) each. Not only that, but those willing to pay such a sum will have to go into a ballot to see who is lucky enough to part with their hard-earned. Clearly, this is no ordinary whisky.
Perhaps more contentious for some proud Scots is the development of whisky south of the border. England is another country few would think of as a whisky producer, but there are several distilleries and more are being opened up.
Writing about this recently, National Geographic noted that there had been whisky distilling in England in the 19th century, but by the early 20th century the English whisky industry had died. However, in recent years there has been a surprising revival, with “at least 49” distilleries producing whisky from Cornwall to Northumberland.
Moreover, the article observed that the youthfulness of the modern English whisky scene enables it to be more diverse and “eclectic”. It stated: “Not hamstrung by history nor tethered so tightly to tradition as their neighbours, English distillers are able to innovate with measured abandon.”
Of course, it may take time for various distilleries and their produce to (often literally) mature, but this does open up the possibility that a range of English cask whiskies may enjoy a growing reputation and burgeoning fan base over the coming years, bolstering their value.
Indeed, the quality of English whiskies is already being recognised, with a prime example of this being the Lakes Distillery winning the Best Single Malt Whisky at the World Whisky Awards 2022.
If you are looking around for cask whiskies to invest in, you may still want to focus on famous Scottish produce. But it may be wise to keep your eye on developments elsewhere, for these might just turn out to offer some very promising investments.