Sell Your Cask of Balblair Whisky
Sell Your Cask of Balblair Whisky with Mark Littler
Balblair Cask Values & Valuations
Balblair is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, however very few casks of Balblair have ever made it into private ownership. If you are fortunate enough to own a cask of Balblair then we are likely to have a stream of clients looking to put forward very strong prices.
Balblair was one of the first distilleries to start declaring the vintage of the spirit in their bottles rather than simply relying on an age statement. With this long history of progressive thinking, you can find a whole array of different Balblair casks and these can be very sought after in the international market.
We specialise in the brokerage of Balblair casks and have buyers all over the world ready to put forward a no-obligation offer.
The most desirable Balblair casks are fresh fill sherry oak casks, however, refill sherry casks are also in demand. Bourbon casks (quite common at Balblair ) do not command the same premium as sherry casks but can still sell well.
If you would like to know the value of your Balblair cask use the form below to get in touch.
QUICK BALBLAIR CASK VALUATION
Are you looking for a quick valuation on a cask you own or are looking to sell? Enter your details below and we will provide you with a free open market valuation of your cask.
Independent Whisky Cask Valuations
Sell Your Cask of Balblair Whisky with Mark Littler
We have sold millions of pounds of casks for our customers, consistently achieving the best price for all types of whisky cask. We help you sell your cask for the best price by going direct to our extensive network of buyers.
We pride ourselves on our open and friendly approach to selling a cask of whisky. No question is too small and we are happy to offer complimentary valuations on your cask and expert advice on how to achieve the best price when selling your cask.
At Mark Littler we are committed to providing the foremost independent whisky brokerage service in the UK.
What affects the value of a cask of Balblair whisky?
There are a large number of interlinking factors that impact the final valuation of a cask of whisky. It is a combination of all the following features that can make a cask expensive, or worthless:
-
The distillery has arguably the greatest impact on the value of a cask of whisky. At the top of the spectrum are premium distilleries and silent distilleries such as The Macallan, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Port Ellen, Clynelish, Brora, Rosebank, Springbank etc.
The next tier includes well respected distilleries with a cult following such as Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Aberlour, Tobermory, Arran, Ben Nevis etc. Casks from other distilleries are still valuable but may not command a premium in the current market.
-
Over 90% of whisky is bottled before it reaches 12 years old. As such the scarcity of whisky increases exponentially as casks pass this milestone. There are NO leaps in value at specific anniversaries (such as 15, 18, 21) as most people tend to think.
It is fair to say that the older the whisky the more valuable, however as the more air enters the cask the evaporation rate will increase significantly meaning there is less whisky remaining. As such an older cask might well be worth less than a similar younger cask OVERALL as there is less whisky remaining owing to the loss through evaporation.
-
As this is written in 2020 sherry casks, especially butts and puncheons, command a premium compared to other casks and are more commercial (easier to find buyers for). Fresh fill sherry are particularly sought after, however if the whisky has been maturing too long in a fresh sherry cask the cask can be over sherried. Sherry casks also carry the risk of being sulphured, and a sulphur taint will bring the price down.
Other casks types can still be valuable but do not command the same premium in the current market.
-
There are four common sizes of cask:
American Standard Barrel/Bourbon Barrel 200 litres
Standard Hogshead 250 litres
Butt 500 litres
Puncheon 550 litres
Clearly the larger the cask the greater potential for value as there is simply more likely to be more whisky (and thus litres of pure alcohol) remaining in a larger cask.
-
ABV stands for Alcohol By Volume and is measured as a percentage. If the spirit in your cask drops below 40% it is not legally whisky and as such the value is going to be severely affected.
Most casks (the exception being Bruichladdich casks) are filled at around 63.5% ABV and they then fall as the angels take their share. It is too complicated to suggest what an ideal ABV is, but very broadly speaking mature casks with an ABV over 50% command a premium.
RLA stands for Regauged Litres of Alcohol and is the calculation of the remaining contents of whisky within a cask following a regauge. You can learn what a regauge is HERE.
The greater the number of litres of alcohol remaining the greater the value as this indicates a greater remaining volume of whisky inside the cask.
Bottles & Mementos From Your Cask
After waiting decades for your cask of Balblair to mature wouldn’t it be nice to keep a bottle or two? That’s what we think too and as long as we know the number of bottles you want to keep (up to 6 is normally fine) we can work that into the negotiations.
We have worked with the award winning designer Tom Niklin to design an incredible label for our clients bottles. Tom has worked with the likes of Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Bulleit, Haig, Royal Lochnagar, Dalwhinnie, Lagavulin and Talisker.
This means that when you get your memento from your cask it will look like any other premium bottle of whisky you would find in a whisky retailer. We also have personalisation labels so you can use your bottles as special gifts.
We worked with the award-winning designer Tom Niklin to design our bespoke labels for our client’s bottles.
How to Sell Your Balblair Cask for the Best Price
We achieve market-beating prices for Balblair casks by finding you the perfect end-user for your cask. We work our networks in Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Asia to find the person whose requirements perfectly match those of your cask. This means it can take a few weeks for us to get offers for your cask, but as you most likely have waited several decades for the cask to mature we hope you can wait a few more weeks.
The majority of our clients are based in Asia where any form of Single Malt Scotch Whisky is now positioned as one of the most sought-after assets. It is the demand from Asia that has driven record prices for bottles, culminating in the sale of a 1926 bottle of Macallan for £1,500,000 in 2019. As whisky is now seen as a status symbol the ultra wealthy see casks of whisky as the ultimate status symbol.
If you have a cask you would like valued please use the form below or contact Mark Littler direct at: [email protected]
Sell Your Balblair Cask With Mark Littler Ltd.
The process for selling your Balblair cask with Mark Littler Ltd is straightforward, we can offer help and advice at every stage of the journey.
The Cask Selling Process
Please send the details of your Balblair cask to [email protected] alternatively please use the form below.
Once we have the relevant details from your cask we provide an initial valuation, then work with our network of international buyers to negotiate the best offers for your consideration.
If you decide to proceed with the offer we will make sure you understand the process and issue you with a contract. At this stage we can work with you to draw off a number of bottles for personal use.
We manage all transfer paperwork and guide you through the selling process stage by stage. Once the paperwork has been transferred to the new owners we release the funds to you.
QUICK BALBLAIR CASK VALUATION
Are you looking for a quick valuation on a Balblair cask you own or are looking to sell? Enter your details below and we will provide you with a free, no-obligation, open market valuation of your cask.
Balblair Cask Selling FAQ
-
There are lots of different factors that can affect the value of your cask. You can read more about them here.
The essential information we need is:
- Distillery
- Year of production
- Cask type
- Age
- Regauge details
All of this information can be provided by the distillery and is a very common, straightforward process. You simply need to call the distillery and ask for a regauge (read more about what a regauge is here)
-
It is not industry practice to require a sample in order to collect offers, therefore we will not ask you for a sample until you decide to accept an offer.
We do require a photograph of a sample, which you can request when performing a regauge.
-
We act as your agent through the process and there is a formal agency agreement/contract that we will post out to you. This outlines all of our legal obligations as your agent
Once we have received the contract we then invoice the buyer and await payment.
After the funds have cleared we help you transfer ownership of the cask to the buyer and we release the funds to you (less our 10% commission).
If you would like to read reviews from our customers you can search Google for Mark Littler and see hundreds of independent, 5 star reviews from happy clients.
We can also provide references upon request.
-
Our fee is a flat 10% with no hidden fees.
-
No. Unlike other brokers we work on a successful offer only basis. This means that we secure offers from clients who are ready to move forward with the sale of the cask immediately.
Other brokers may take your cask on consignment and then advertise the cask for sale for a set period, say 6 months. They would ask for complete exclusivity even though they may not even be able to find you a buyer.
Why choose Mark Littler to Sell Your Whisky Cask?
Trusted Brokers
At Mark Littler Ltd we sell your Balblair cask to make a profit for you. We are an independent whisky broker and we are different from other cask selling services in that we help you sell your cask direct to the end user, which means we can get you the best price for your cask. Many other cask selling services buy your cask and then resell it themselves, which means it is not in their interest to get you the best price. Our fees are a flat 10% so you know exactly what to expect when you sell your cask through us.
Don’t just take our word for it. Mark Littler Ltd was established in 2016 and we have over 300 five-star reviews on Google, Facebook and Yell from our contented customers. We understand that selling a cask is significant transaction and can offer independent references on demand.
Delivering Profit to Our Customers
Our international network of buyers ensures we can match your cask with the right consumer to get you the best possible price for your whisky cask. Our extensive network of buyers means we consistently deliver offers that are higher than those put forward by distilleries or other brokers. We work on a flat 10% commission rate, no hidden costs, just us ensuring you get the most out of your cask.
Already have an offer on your cask? Our advice is completely free and as part of our drive to increase transparency in the cask industry we would be more than happy for you to get in touch for a no-obligation chat about selling your whisky cask.
Experience Your Cask
As well as ensuring that selling your whisky cask is a straightforward experience, because of our exclusive industry contacts we can offer a series of unique opportunities when you sell your cask with us.
- Keep 1-6 bottles of your cask, at cost
- Have just a portion of your cask bottled
- Get a custom cask head as a memento of your cask
Bottle up to 6 bottles at cost (plus duty, VAT and bottling fees (aprox. £10-£20 per bottle for a bespoke label design), which can be deducted from the final profit from your cask. If you would like to bottle more than 6 bottles we can also arrange part bottling of your cask. If you would like any bottles from your cask please let us know at the start of the process so we can let any potential buyer know.
Independent Balblair Whisky Cask Valuations
In order to provide you with an accurate valuation please provide as much of the below information as you can.
All of our valuations are without obligation. You can also call the Mark Littler direct on 01260 218718
The History of the Balbalir Distillery
Located in Rosshire, the Balblair distillery was originally established in 1790 by the Ross family and has the distinction of having one of distilling’s oldest archives, its very first ledger entry dating back to 1800.
In 1872 the production was moved to a different site which had been constructed close to the brand-new railway line linking Inverness and Wick and in 1895, the distillery underwent a rebuild to a design drawn up by Charles C Doig who specialised in distillery architecture. Even though the rebuilt distillery was conveniently close to a nearby burn, the original water source was believed to be superior, and so the water used in the whisky production was sourced from the Ault Dearg burn, and this has continued to be the water source for the Balblair Distillery’s expressions even today.
The site was run by the Ross family for a century before the company passed into the hands of Alexander Cowan in 1894. Like many other distilleries of the time, however, it suffered from financial difficulties at the beginning of the 20th century and 1911 saw it closing its doors. They were not reopened until after the Second World War when Winston Churchill demanded that whisky must be produced to satisfy American demand.
Robert Cumming then purchased the freehold in 1948, and prompt expansion of the distillery soon followed with increased production. Cumming operated the distillery until his retirement in 1970 when the operation was sold to Hiram Walker before it was absorbed into Allied Distillers. It was then purchased in 1996 by Inver House Distillers Ltd who also own a number of other well-known distilleries including Knockdhu, the Speyburn-Glenlivet distillery and Old Pulteney.
Balblair’s bottlings were intermittent until 2007, however then the single malt was repackaged as “vintage” releases. This led the brand to become noticed and to achieve higher status. Today, the Balblair distillery is open to tourists. It has a modern visitor’s centre and hosts tastings and tours throughout the year for those who long to find out more about its ancient malting processes.
As an interesting aside, in the movie The Angel’s Share from 2013, Balblair was the distillery where the fictitious single remaining cask of Malt Mill was auctioned off.
Distillery Specific Pages
We can help sell casks from all distilleries, find out more about selling your specific cask of whisky on our specialised distillery pages.
Learn More
Sell Your Cask of Balblair Whisky with Mark Littler
Balblair Cask Values & Valuations
Balblair is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, however very few casks of Balblair have ever made it into private ownership. If you are fortunate enough to own a cask of Balblair then we are likely to have a stream of clients looking to put forward very strong prices.
Balblair was one of the first distilleries to start declaring the vintage of the spirit in their bottles rather than simply relying on an age statement. With this long history of progressive thinking, you can find a whole array of different Balblair casks and these can be very sought after in the international market.
We specialise in the brokerage of Balblair casks and have buyers all over the world ready to put forward a no-obligation offer.
The most desirable Balblair casks are fresh fill sherry oak casks, however, refill sherry casks are also in demand. Bourbon casks (quite common at Balblair ) do not command the same premium as sherry casks but can still sell well.
If you would like to know the value of your Balblair cask use the form below to get in touch.
QUICK BALBLAIR CASK VALUATION
Are you looking for a quick valuation on a cask you own or are looking to sell? Enter your details below and we will provide you with a free open market valuation of your cask.
Independent Whisky Cask Valuations
Sell Your Cask of Balblair Whisky with Mark Littler
We have sold millions of pounds of casks for our customers, consistently achieving the best price for all types of whisky cask. We help you sell your cask for the best price by going direct to our extensive network of buyers.
We pride ourselves on our open and friendly approach to selling a cask of whisky. No question is too small and we are happy to offer complimentary valuations on your cask and expert advice on how to achieve the best price when selling your cask.
At Mark Littler we are committed to providing the foremost independent whisky brokerage service in the UK.
What affects the value of a cask of Balblair whisky?
There are a large number of interlinking factors that impact the final valuation of a cask of whisky. It is a combination of all the following features that can make a cask expensive, or worthless:
-
The distillery has arguably the greatest impact on the value of a cask of whisky. At the top of the spectrum are premium distilleries and silent distilleries such as The Macallan, Bowmore, Ardbeg, Laphroaig, Port Ellen, Clynelish, Brora, Rosebank, Springbank etc.
The next tier includes well respected distilleries with a cult following such as Bruichladdich, Caol Ila, Aberlour, Tobermory, Arran, Ben Nevis etc. Casks from other distilleries are still valuable but may not command a premium in the current market.
-
Over 90% of whisky is bottled before it reaches 12 years old. As such the scarcity of whisky increases exponentially as casks pass this milestone. There are NO leaps in value at specific anniversaries (such as 15, 18, 21) as most people tend to think.
It is fair to say that the older the whisky the more valuable, however as the more air enters the cask the evaporation rate will increase significantly meaning there is less whisky remaining. As such an older cask might well be worth less than a similar younger cask OVERALL as there is less whisky remaining owing to the loss through evaporation.
-
As this is written in 2020 sherry casks, especially butts and puncheons, command a premium compared to other casks and are more commercial (easier to find buyers for). Fresh fill sherry are particularly sought after, however if the whisky has been maturing too long in a fresh sherry cask the cask can be over sherried. Sherry casks also carry the risk of being sulphured, and a sulphur taint will bring the price down.
Other casks types can still be valuable but do not command the same premium in the current market.
-
There are four common sizes of cask:
American Standard Barrel/Bourbon Barrel 200 litres
Standard Hogshead 250 litres
Butt 500 litres
Puncheon 550 litres
Clearly the larger the cask the greater potential for value as there is simply more likely to be more whisky (and thus litres of pure alcohol) remaining in a larger cask.
-
ABV stands for Alcohol By Volume and is measured as a percentage. If the spirit in your cask drops below 40% it is not legally whisky and as such the value is going to be severely affected.
Most casks (the exception being Bruichladdich casks) are filled at around 63.5% ABV and they then fall as the angels take their share. It is too complicated to suggest what an ideal ABV is, but very broadly speaking mature casks with an ABV over 50% command a premium.
RLA stands for Regauged Litres of Alcohol and is the calculation of the remaining contents of whisky within a cask following a regauge. You can learn what a regauge is HERE.
The greater the number of litres of alcohol remaining the greater the value as this indicates a greater remaining volume of whisky inside the cask.
Bottles & Mementos From Your Cask
After waiting decades for your cask of Balblair to mature wouldn’t it be nice to keep a bottle or two? That’s what we think too and as long as we know the number of bottles you want to keep (up to 6 is normally fine) we can work that into the negotiations.
We have worked with the award winning designer Tom Niklin to design an incredible label for our clients bottles. Tom has worked with the likes of Johnnie Walker, Singleton, Bulleit, Haig, Royal Lochnagar, Dalwhinnie, Lagavulin and Talisker.
This means that when you get your memento from your cask it will look like any other premium bottle of whisky you would find in a whisky retailer. We also have personalisation labels so you can use your bottles as special gifts.
We worked with the award-winning designer Tom Niklin to design our bespoke labels for our client’s bottles.
How to Sell Your Balblair Cask for the Best Price
We achieve market-beating prices for Balblair casks by finding you the perfect end-user for your cask. We work our networks in Europe, the USA, the Middle East, and Asia to find the person whose requirements perfectly match those of your cask. This means it can take a few weeks for us to get offers for your cask, but as you most likely have waited several decades for the cask to mature we hope you can wait a few more weeks.
The majority of our clients are based in Asia where any form of Single Malt Scotch Whisky is now positioned as one of the most sought-after assets. It is the demand from Asia that has driven record prices for bottles, culminating in the sale of a 1926 bottle of Macallan for £1,500,000 in 2019. As whisky is now seen as a status symbol the ultra wealthy see casks of whisky as the ultimate status symbol.
If you have a cask you would like valued please use the form below or contact Mark Littler direct at: [email protected]
Sell Your Balblair Cask With Mark Littler Ltd.
The process for selling your Balblair cask with Mark Littler Ltd is straightforward, we can offer help and advice at every stage of the journey.
The Cask Selling Process
Please send the details of your Balblair cask to [email protected] alternatively please use the form below.
Once we have the relevant details from your cask we provide an initial valuation, then work with our network of international buyers to negotiate the best offers for your consideration.
If you decide to proceed with the offer we will make sure you understand the process and issue you with a contract. At this stage we can work with you to draw off a number of bottles for personal use.
We manage all transfer paperwork and guide you through the selling process stage by stage. Once the paperwork has been transferred to the new owners we release the funds to you.
QUICK BALBLAIR CASK VALUATION
Are you looking for a quick valuation on a Balblair cask you own or are looking to sell? Enter your details below and we will provide you with a free, no-obligation, open market valuation of your cask.
Balblair Cask Selling FAQ
-
There are lots of different factors that can affect the value of your cask. You can read more about them here.
The essential information we need is:
- Distillery
- Year of production
- Cask type
- Age
- Regauge details
All of this information can be provided by the distillery and is a very common, straightforward process. You simply need to call the distillery and ask for a regauge (read more about what a regauge is here)
-
It is not industry practice to require a sample in order to collect offers, therefore we will not ask you for a sample until you decide to accept an offer.
We do require a photograph of a sample, which you can request when performing a regauge.
-
We act as your agent through the process and there is a formal agency agreement/contract that we will post out to you. This outlines all of our legal obligations as your agent
Once we have received the contract we then invoice the buyer and await payment.
After the funds have cleared we help you transfer ownership of the cask to the buyer and we release the funds to you (less our 10% commission).
If you would like to read reviews from our customers you can search Google for Mark Littler and see hundreds of independent, 5 star reviews from happy clients.
We can also provide references upon request.
-
Our fee is a flat 10% with no hidden fees.
-
No. Unlike other brokers we work on a successful offer only basis. This means that we secure offers from clients who are ready to move forward with the sale of the cask immediately.
Other brokers may take your cask on consignment and then advertise the cask for sale for a set period, say 6 months. They would ask for complete exclusivity even though they may not even be able to find you a buyer.
Why choose Mark Littler to Sell Your Whisky Cask?
Trusted Brokers
At Mark Littler Ltd we sell your Balblair cask to make a profit for you. We are an independent whisky broker and we are different from other cask selling services in that we help you sell your cask direct to the end user, which means we can get you the best price for your cask. Many other cask selling services buy your cask and then resell it themselves, which means it is not in their interest to get you the best price. Our fees are a flat 10% so you know exactly what to expect when you sell your cask through us.
Don’t just take our word for it. Mark Littler Ltd was established in 2016 and we have over 300 five-star reviews on Google, Facebook and Yell from our contented customers. We understand that selling a cask is significant transaction and can offer independent references on demand.
Delivering Profit to Our Customers
Our international network of buyers ensures we can match your cask with the right consumer to get you the best possible price for your whisky cask. Our extensive network of buyers means we consistently deliver offers that are higher than those put forward by distilleries or other brokers. We work on a flat 10% commission rate, no hidden costs, just us ensuring you get the most out of your cask.
Already have an offer on your cask? Our advice is completely free and as part of our drive to increase transparency in the cask industry we would be more than happy for you to get in touch for a no-obligation chat about selling your whisky cask.
Experience Your Cask
As well as ensuring that selling your whisky cask is a straightforward experience, because of our exclusive industry contacts we can offer a series of unique opportunities when you sell your cask with us.
- Keep 1-6 bottles of your cask, at cost
- Have just a portion of your cask bottled
- Get a custom cask head as a memento of your cask
Bottle up to 6 bottles at cost (plus duty, VAT and bottling fees (aprox. £10-£20 per bottle for a bespoke label design), which can be deducted from the final profit from your cask. If you would like to bottle more than 6 bottles we can also arrange part bottling of your cask. If you would like any bottles from your cask please let us know at the start of the process so we can let any potential buyer know.
Independent Balblair Whisky Cask Valuations
In order to provide you with an accurate valuation please provide as much of the below information as you can.
All of our valuations are without obligation. You can also call the Mark Littler direct on 01260 218718
The History of the Balbalir Distillery
Located in Rosshire, the Balblair distillery was originally established in 1790 by the Ross family and has the distinction of having one of distilling’s oldest archives, its very first ledger entry dating back to 1800.
In 1872 the production was moved to a different site which had been constructed close to the brand-new railway line linking Inverness and Wick and in 1895, the distillery underwent a rebuild to a design drawn up by Charles C Doig who specialised in distillery architecture. Even though the rebuilt distillery was conveniently close to a nearby burn, the original water source was believed to be superior, and so the water used in the whisky production was sourced from the Ault Dearg burn, and this has continued to be the water source for the Balblair Distillery’s expressions even today.
The site was run by the Ross family for a century before the company passed into the hands of Alexander Cowan in 1894. Like many other distilleries of the time, however, it suffered from financial difficulties at the beginning of the 20th century and 1911 saw it closing its doors. They were not reopened until after the Second World War when Winston Churchill demanded that whisky must be produced to satisfy American demand.
Robert Cumming then purchased the freehold in 1948, and prompt expansion of the distillery soon followed with increased production. Cumming operated the distillery until his retirement in 1970 when the operation was sold to Hiram Walker before it was absorbed into Allied Distillers. It was then purchased in 1996 by Inver House Distillers Ltd who also own a number of other well-known distilleries including Knockdhu, the Speyburn-Glenlivet distillery and Old Pulteney.
Balblair’s bottlings were intermittent until 2007, however then the single malt was repackaged as “vintage” releases. This led the brand to become noticed and to achieve higher status. Today, the Balblair distillery is open to tourists. It has a modern visitor’s centre and hosts tastings and tours throughout the year for those who long to find out more about its ancient malting processes.
As an interesting aside, in the movie The Angel’s Share from 2013, Balblair was the distillery where the fictitious single remaining cask of Malt Mill was auctioned off.
Distillery Specific Pages
We can help sell casks from all distilleries, find out more about selling your specific cask of whisky on our specialised distillery pages.
Learn More