[updated January 2024]
If you are a whisky lover chances are that at some point you have considered the benefits of owning your very own cask of whisky. As well as buying a cask through a broker like us in 2024 it is still possible to buy casks direct from some distilleries.
Where can you buy an entire cask of whisky in 2024?
Every distillery you can buy a cask from directly in 2024. Cask sizes marked * have been calibrated to show the price for a 200L barrel for direct comparison but that cask size is not specifically offered by the distillery.
The above table is a summary of every distillery we have found where you can buy a whole cask of whisky. As we are a specialist whisky broker we have added equivalent from prices for casks sold by us for comparison.
For detailed information on each distiller’s offering, including prices, sizes and whether bottling is included or not then please see below.
Important considerations
It is important to note here that we are not endorsing or otherwise any of the opportunities listed below. Whoever you decide to buy a cask from you should ensure you do you full due diligence before purchasing the cask.
It is also extremely important to note that many of the distilleries specify that their offerings are not suitable for an investment and as such are a way to support the distillery and enjoy some exclusive whisky.
Whether you are looking into a long term investment, are planning to bottle your whisky (in which case make sure you read this first), or are just looking for a cask for personal enjoyment this guide and the other online cask buying guides we have curated will act as a starting point to help you to decide what the best options are for you.
For more information on everything else you need to know before buying a cask you can also watch our cask investment video guides and download our free introduction to cask ownership.
Why do some distilleries sell casks?
Sometimes distilleries need to raise money more quickly than waiting 3 to 12 years for their whisky to mature and become suitable for bottling. Most often this is if they are looking to fund an investment or when they are first beginning to distil whisky. In these cases distilleries can choose to offer casks for sale direct to the public as a way to release capital from their stock without taking a loan whilst also building brand loyalty.
We have listed the distilleries that currently offer casks below. We have included how much you can expect to pay, and where it is disclosed we have shown what size cask that is for and what else is included. For a wide reference of base prices, we have included some distilleries that have offered casks in previous years but currently do not have a private cask offering.
Everywhere you can buy a whole cask of whisky
- Founded: 2017
- Region: Lowlands
- Price: £2,400
- Bottling: Included
Borders distillery opened in March 2018 as the first whisky distillery in the Scottish Borders since 1837, with the aim of reinstilling a love of whisky-making back into the area. The distillery is located in Hawick, a town with a rich history of manufacturing – this is where tweed was invented. The barley used in the whisky that is produced here is grown within a 20 mile radius of the distillery.
The casks that Borders have to offer are available from £2,400 and you can specify your fill date. For more information, visit Borders’ website.
- Founded: 2016
- Region: Congleton, Cheshire
- Price: Starts at £3,000
- Bottling: Not included
OK, so we might not be a distillery but as an expert whisky broker, if you are looking to buy a cask we can certainly help. Our aim is to help you buy a quality cask at a fair price.
We help you to buy strategically from distilleries that are already well established and are therefore more likely to prove to be a good investment compared to a cask from a new, unproven distillery. We carefully pick casks that we believe have good potential as a long term investment.
Not only are the casks that we sell from established distilleries, but they are also older casks in general, around 5-10 years old, giving you a head start on your investment compared to new make. We have found that there is no need to spend more than £3,000 to £7,000 to get a great cask, 5-10 years old, from a well established distillery with fantastic potential.
We do not suggest bottling a cask if you are looking at it as an investment. To explain why please explore our online cask calculator. You can also use the calculator to reverse engineer the price of casks that you might be offered as a way to verify prices.
- Founded: 2000
- Region: South Wales
- Price: £2,900
- Bottling: Not included
Welsh whiskey is a rarity, as Penderyn Distillery is the only distillery currently in operation in Wales. The distillery is located in the foothills of the Brecons Beacons National Park in South Wales. It was opened in 2004, more than 100 years since the last distillation of whiskey in Wales. The distillery was officially opened by HRH King Charles when he was The Prince Of Wales. The distillery is independently owned and run, and since its opening has produced award winning whiskies.
A new-fill barrel of Pendryn will set you back £2,900 and they suggest 5 – 7 years for maturation. The distillery will only store your cask for a maximum of 10 years.
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- Founded: 2013
- Region: Tel-Aviv, Israel
- Price: from approximately £4,300
- Bottling: Not Included
The Milk and Honey distillery marks the rise of the whiskey industry in Israel. Located in Tel-Aviv, the distillery was founded in 2013 by a group of friends who dreamt of producing a world-class Israeli Single Malt. They have succeeded. The humid climate that Israel experiences means that the whiskies mature far quicker than those distilled in a colder climate, meaning that younger whiskies (3-4 years old) can have the same depth and maturity as a whiskey that has been matured for 10 years.
The Milk & Honey Distillery offer a limited number of first-fill ex-bourbon casks for approximately £3,300 (based on current exchange rates) that they will then house for you for three years, after which you must decide whether to bottle the cask, or let it continue aging, baring in mind that the humid Israeli climate means that the angel share (the amount of whiskey that evaporates per year) is 9%, compared to the average 2% of Scotch whiskies.
The distillery allows you to visit your cask whenever you like. You can even taste your whiskey and receive samples by mail upon request.
- Founded: 2014
- Region: Highlands
- Price: £3,475-£8,900
- Bottling: Included
Ardnamurchan Distillery is owned by Adelphi. Production at this highland region distillery began in 2014. The barley that is used in the whisky-making process is largely grown next to Adelphi’s bottling warehouse in Fife, and the whisky is matured in hand-selected ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks.
Arndamurchan’s cask buying program is limited to a certain number of casks a year on a first come first served basis, starting around £3,475 for a 200 litre barrel.
For more information or to enquire about future availability please visit Ardnamurchan’s website.
- Founded: 1836
- Region: Lowlands
- Price: Starts at £3,200
- Bottling: Not included
Annandale Distillery was established in 1836 by a man named George Donald, who named the distillery after the valley in which it is situated. The water that is used in the making of the whisky is from the Middlebury Burn. In 1893 the distillery was purchased by John Walker & Sons. However, by 1919, the company decided to abandon the distillery and focus on developing their signature Johnnie Walker blend. Shortly afterwards, the distillery was closed. After 93 years of silence, the distillery was reopened in 2014 after being bought by the Annandale Distillery Company and refurbished in a £10.5 million restoration.
The new Annandale distillery released their first whisky in 2018, and show now signs of stopping. All of their malts are non-chill filtered, single cask, single malt Scotch whiskies that are bottled at cask strength. The distillery produces both peated and unpeated malts, whatever your preference.
They have a range of casks available with bourbon barrels starting at £3,000. There are also 500-litre ex-wine casks and sherry-conditioned butts available. You can find more information about buying Annandale casks on their website.
- Founded: 1993
- Region: Highlands
- Price: Starts at £5,000
- Bottling: Not included
Arran Distillery is located on the island of Arran in the Scottish highlands and was founded in 1993. The island is said to be home to the purest water in Scotland. The water runs down mountains and into Loch na Davie, on the way down being cleansed by granite. This makes the water perfect for making whisky, along with Optic and Oxbridge barley. Notably, their whiskies are never chill-filtered.
You cannot buy standard Arran casks anymore, but they their peated Lochranza casks are available from £5,000 for a First Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel. Find out more on their website.
- Founded: 2017
- Region: Highlands
- Price: Previously from £3,500 – waiting list closed
- Bottling: Not included
© Richard Kellett/FT
Nc’nean is a fairly new distillery – only starting to distill in 2017, and aiming to get people thinking differently about Scotch. Their first bottled single malt broke records when it was released at auction in 2020.
The distillery is also very environmentally conscious. They distill only with pure spring water, use renewable energy sources, and feed left-over grain to cows on the farm. This modern distillery promises to deliver wonderful and innovative single malts in the future.
You could own a cask of Nc’nean whisky for £3,500 + but with only 60 barrels available each year and a good reception to their first bottle releases in 2020 you probably won’t be surprised to hear that they have currently closed their waiting list.
- Founded: 2016
- Region: Yorkshire
- Price: Not currently available – Waiting List
- Bottling: Not included
Spirit Of Yorkshire Distillery is the first whiskey distillery in the Yorkshire area, using barley grown on their family farm in Hunmanby, meaning that they are in control of the whisky making process right down to seed planting.
The young distillery’s first two releases sold out completely on their website, showing that you do not have to be based in Scotland to generate hype around whisky. Their subsequent whiskies demonstrate their willingness to experiment and promise good things for the future.
This pioneering distillery are offering a limited number of ex-Bourbon and ex-Red wine casks for the public to purchase. Cask purchases are made via direct enquiry, and you can find details on their website.
- Founded: 2017
- Region: Lowlands
- Price: Starts at £4,000
- Bottling: Not included
Lindores Abbey Distillery is a microdistillery that is built on the grounds of an old abbey in the Scottish lowlands. It is thought that distilling was taking place on the site as early as 1494, as a letter to Friar John Cor instructed him to make “aqua vitae, VIII bolls of malt” by order of King James IV. This is the first written record of whisky.
The new microdistillery was founded in 2017, and uses barley from Fife and water from a local borehole to make their whisky. They have a large range of casks in which to distill their whisky.
Cask prices start at £4,000, size isn’t stated on their website. Contact details to find out more are listed on their website, here.
Raasay Distillery – Not Currently available
- Founded: 2017
- Region: Highlands
- Price: From £6,000 previously – now has a waiting list
- Bottling: Not included
Raasay distillery is named after the island on which it sits, and is the first legal distillery on the island. It began distilling in 2017, and aims to create a new whisky destination with stunning views and even better whisky. They draw the water for their whisky from their very own well. This water is used in every stage of production, including dilution and tasting. The distillery produces peated and unpeated malts.
Prices have been previously listed as starting at £6,000 for a 190 litre cask. Currently there is a waiting list to purchase these casks in 2023. Find out more on the Isle of Raasay distillery website here.
- Founded: 2019
- Region: Highlands
- Price: Not currently available
- Bottling: Not included
Lagg distillery is newly built and owned by the same owners as Arran distillery. Both distilleries call the beautiful island of Arran home. Production began in 2019, and the distillery is hoping to make a splash in the industry, producing only heavily peated malt in contrast to its counterpart: Arran Distillery.
The distillery have announced that in the first 10 years of distilling, they will only release 700 casks for sale to the public. These casks will be first fill ex-Bourbon barrels filled with an earthy, heavily peated single malt. We cannot find any details about purchasing a cask from Lagg in 2023 so this programme may now have ended.
- Founded: 2017
- Region: Islay
- Prices: Not currently available
- Bottling: Not included
Ardnahoe Distillery is the newest distillery on the island of Islay – a location famous for producing stunning whiskies. The water used in the whisky production is drawn from Loch Ardnahoe, where it has been filtered through peat and rock for centuries. The distillery enlisted the help of Jim McEwan, Master Distiller at Bruichladdich, to help them develop their production design.
Unfortunately it is exceedingly difficult to get casks of Islay whisky, and so it is unsurprising to hear that Ardnahoe have ceased their private cask buying scheme as of 2021. We can occasionally source casks from other Islay distilleries so get in touch if you would like to go on our waiting list.
- Founded: 2015
- Region: Lowlands
- Price: On application (previously listed as £12,000)
- Bottling: Included
InchDairnie Distillery is a new distillery that is located in Glenrothes. So new, in fact, that their first release single malt is not dropping until 2029. With that said, you can register to buy a cask of InchDairnie now, and own a rare piece of the history of the distillery.
InchDairnie have made headlines for their innovative approach, including experimenting with rye whisky (or grain whisky, as it must be known in order to be legally recognised in the UK). They have also been experimenting with using oats in production. This new approach is fascinating whisky enthusiasts the world over, and this cask ownership program gives you the chance to own some of this innovative whisky.
Just 30 casks a year are released to the public and have previously been for sale for around £12,000. Storage and insurance for 12 years is included as is bottling (after at least 12 years). You will also receive 2 samples a year and case to store them in, a copper cask end stencil and the chance to visit the distillery and watch filling.
Please note that in our experience this is one of the more expensive private cask buying schemes available direct from a distillery, visit their website to enquire and find out current prices.
- Founded: 1825
- Region: Cork, Ireland
- Price: Unknown
- Bottling: Unknown
The Pinnacle of Irish Whiskey – that is how Midleton describes itself, and they are not wrong. Midleton dates back to 1825 and has distilled stunning Irish whiskies. Midleton Distillery is the continuation of the famed Old Midleton Distillery that was closed in 1975. Since its establishment, Midleton Distillery has gone from strength to strength – they now own brands such as Jamesons.
The Midleton Very Rare brand was created in 1984 by Barry Crockett who, since retirement, has enlisted the help of Master Distiller Brian Nation in choosing whiskies to blend into an annual vintage. The popularity of this brand led to the development of the Midleton Very Rare Cask Circle – an exclusive, by appointment service that allows clients to select a cask of Midleton Very Rare to purchase. The casks are selected from a shortlist that is written by Brian Nation, Master Distiller.
The cask circle is currently closed but previously casks have been priced at upwards of 75,000 Euro, depending on the age and style of the whiskey and the cask.
To gain access to this information, you must register for a special access code to Midleton’s Cask Club. There, your Irish whisky cask buying journey will begin.
- Founded: 1824
- Region: Speyside
- Price: On enquiry
- Bottling: Unknown
Macallan Distillery needs no introduction, and is one of the most prominent distilleries in the world of whisky. The most expensive bottle of Macallan ever sold at auction went for a staggering £1.5 million.
Until recently Macallan had offered an extremely exclusive cask buying experience. Every year the distillery offered a very select few clients the chance to create their own cask of Macallan. They could choose a cask, fill it with new-make spirit, and then put in the cellar of the distillery for a minimum of 12 years. After this period of time has elapsed, the cask had to be bottled with labels that you could personalise.
Also included was dinner and a stay at Easter Elchies house, which is an invitation-only establishment and VIP visitation rights to the distillery.
However, even when it was available all that came at a price point that matches Macallan’s exclusive luxury status. The price was only available on request but was rumored to be in excess of £150,000. These days if you want a cask of Macallan you will have to look on the secondary market for one of the elusive casks that were purchased by lucky private buyers in the 1990’s, just make sure you don’t overpay.
Additional considerations
Please note that this guide is not meant as a suggestion of what to buy but is simply intended as a guide and starting point for your investigation into cask purchases. If you are looking at buying a cask in 2024, whether from a broker like ourselves or direct from a distillery, then you need to make sure that it is the right option for you.
Bottling costs
Some of distillery offers listed above specify that the whisky must be bottled at the end of the maturation period. As such, you need to ensure you are fully aware of the costs and taxes involved in bottling and the implications of how that might shape the purchase of an investment or otherwise.
Many of the distilleries give examples of the expected costs and will likely advise you of them if you ask. Where they are noted they are often given with a diluted ABV of 43%-46% and if you want to bottle at different strengths you need to be aware that this will impact your bottle yield and per bottle price.
You can use our cask calculator for more information on bottling costs.
Taxes
It is our understanding that casks are classed as a wasting asset and therefore not currently subject to capital gains tax in the UK. However bottles are not classed as a wasting asset and you should be aware of this as well if you are looking at bottling a cask.
If you have any questions then please feel free to get in touch. You can send us an email to [email protected] or call the office on 01260 218 718.
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