In the final part of our Romance of the Cask series we are discussing the end. Specifically we are looking at how warehouses, including their location, can impact your whisky, what finishing is, and what is in store for a cask once it can no longer be used for whisky. If you haven’t already you […]
In the third part of our Romance of the Cask series we are discussing the effects of toasting versus charring and explaining why size does matter when it comes to cask maturation. If you haven’t already you can read parts one and two.
In part two of the Romance of the Cask series we are exploring the past life of a whisky cask and what that has to do with the taste of your whisky. Specifically we’re looking at what your cask was used to store previously, and how many times it has been used to mature whisky. […]
When we think of Scotch Whisky, on the surface it seems to be a relatively uncomplicated drink. Be it malt, grain or blended Scotch Whisky, there are a wide range of flavours and aromas that can be created from only three components or ingredients. However the reality is that there are many ways we can […]
Here at Mark Littler Ltd we pride ourselves on providing fair and balanced information to anyone who is considering cask investment. As well as providing you with a wealth of knowledge on whisky casks and how to buy them – we think it is just as important to share what to look out for that […]
Investing in a whisky cask can be a great financial investment. We know first hand as we have helped sell millions of pounds worth of casks for people exiting their cask investment. The average range of returns our customers have made when selling their cask after holding the cask in the medium to long term […]
Whether or not you prefer peated or unpeated, Islay or Orkney, single malt or blended, if you are a whisky lover chances are that you dream of owning your very own cask of your favourite drink. Distilleries that are currently in operation often need to make money quickly in order to fund production. This is […]
German silver has a rich tradition and its own unique forms. Use this guide as your starting point to find out more about your piece of German silver or just to learn more about the forms and fashions prevalent through the 17th and 18th centuries. We can advise on the value of your silver and […]
In this guest blog post, Elaine Roche from JMW Solicitors, Manchester, outlines some of the pitfalls people succumb to when applying for a grant of probate. In particular Elaine outlines some of the items you might not be aware needed to be declared, and some chattels that are completely free from Inheritance Tax. If you […]
A collection containing the world’s oldest Irish whiskey will launch this month (February 2020). The Old Midleton Distillery in Cork, is renowned for producing some of the best Irish whiskey that the distilleries of Ireland have to offer. The distillery was in operation from 1825 – 1975. Since then, the distillery has been decommissioned, and […]
Fears surrounding the health and safety of antique lovers and auction house staff have forced auction houses to postpone exhibitions as the novel coronavirus continues to spread. Auction houses such as Bonham’s and Sotheby’s have postponed Asian art auctions that were scheduled to take place in New York in March amid fears surrounding the coronavirus […]
How Much Is A New Cask Of Whisky? Asking how much a new cask of whisky costs is like asking how much a house costs. There are so many different factors that go into pricing up a cask of whisky that it is difficult to to give a ball-park figure. For example, a new cask […]
In 1996 the Scotch Whisky Association released a pamphlet on Personal Investment in Scotch Whisky, which you can read here. More than 20 years later Scotch Whisky is becoming increasingly popular as a personal investment however much of the information provided is still largely relevant today. The SWA generally proposes caution and that any budding […]
In May 2018, at the annual Scotch Whisky Association Conference, delegates heard that “[t]he Scotch Whisky industry’s recent growth must be maintained beyond Brexit.” The recent growth references the statistics that Scotch Whisky is the UK’s largest food and drink export, accounting for 20% of all food and drink exports. In fact, according to the […]
The Royal Mint has created a £5,000 coin that is worth far more than its face value. The five kilogram coin is estimated to be worth approximately £300,000.
We are thrilled to announce that our Cask Buying Guide finally returned from the printers last week. It has been a long time coming and we cannot wait to get it out to everyone who has signed up to receive one and waited patiently for us to get it perfected for you to read. Inside […]
There will be only 100 chances to buy a bottle of 55-year old Yamazaki single malt whisky, according to Suntory Holdings. The company unveiled the bottles on 30th January 2020, with the bottles expected to go on sale in June. The buyers will be selected by a lottery, due to the large number of prospective […]
L.S. Lowry is famed for his simplistic depictions of the lives of the working class in Northern England. One such depiction – titled ‘The Mill, Pendlebury’ – recently sold for £2.65m at auction, after being ‘lost’ for seven decades. The painting is an oil-on-canvas work depicting Acme Mill in Pendlebury, Lancashire, towering over residents of […]
A Richard Feynman quote seems apt to start this article: “The first principle is that you must not fool yourself – and you are the easiest person to fool.” This was true in the post World War II era, and is even more true in the world we now find ourselves living in where ‘Fake […]
Early silver from Liverpool Until the end of the 17th century hallmarking regulations were not as strict. Given the poor condition of the roads, not to mention the dangers of highway men, silversmiths would rather put their own marks onto their wares than risk the journey to an official Assay Office. The silversmiths working in […]