Sell Your Cask of Macallan Whisky

Sell Your Cask of Macallan Whisky with Mark Littler

Macallan Cask Values & Valuations

Macallan began focusing on the production and sale of single malt whisky in the early 1980’s. Prior to this most of their output had been sold for use in blends, something most people find hard to believe in this day.

Macallan casks are by far the most sought-after single malt whisky casks on the market. Figures in excess of £100,000 per cask are now common for Macallan, with all of the demand coming from Asia.

In reality, the prices being paid for Macallan casks are way in excess of their value on the UK market. We specialise in the sale of Macallan casks and have buyers in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, China and the Middle East.

Most casks were released to the public from Macallan in the early 1990’s, some for less than £1,000. Their casks were still expensive compared to others on the market, but their strict use of the very best sherry casks and excellent cask management has proven to be worth the investment in the long term.

The most desirable Macallan casks are fresh fill sherry oak casks, however, refill sherry casks are also in demand and can still sell for £100,000+. Bourbon casks (not as common at Macallan) do not command the same premium as sherry casks as they are not sought after by the Asian market.

QUICK MACALLAN 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 Macllan 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 Macallan 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:

Distillery
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.
Age of the whisky
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.
Type of cask
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.
Size of cask
Regauge details: ABV and RLA
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 Macallan 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 Macallan Cask for the Best Price

We achieve market-beating prices for Macallan 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 likley 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 Asisa 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 weathly 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 Macallan Cask With Mark Littler Ltd.

The process for selling your Macallan 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 Macallan 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.

Reviews

Below are a few of the testimonials we have received from happy clients. You can find these reviews and hundreds more on Google, Facebook and Yell.

Mark Littler LTD - Independent Antiques Consultant and Whisky Broker

5.0

Based on 217 reviews

See all reviews

phill C.

20:19 19 Jan 21

I got in touch with Mark having read one of his articles online. I was thinking of investing in a cask and had an offer from a company that shall remain nameless. At this point I thought I should seek independent advice. Mark's professional and informative approach to my questions was excellent. He basically saved me from making a huge potential mistake investing with a company that were not throwing straight dice and trying to pitch sales based on false information. I may add that at this... point Mark was not pitching any sale to myself, merely offering good, genuine and free advice.I later had the opportunity to use Mark as a consultant to invest in my first Cask. I have found him to be very professional, knowledgeable, courteous and friendly.I feel lucky to have sounded out Mark as a broker and hope to be using him again in the future. I can not recommend him and his team highly enough for their help and time!read more

Pankaj K.

07:57 06 Jan 21

It was an absolute pleasure dealing with Mark. I was looking to buy a cask of whisky and spoke with numerous brokers. The response, transparency and authenticity from Mark was the one that I liked the most. I highly recommend visiting Mark's website and the process outlined by him to own a whisky cask is the most exhaustive and helps you understand the nuances of owning the cask. I highly recommend Mark and will surely be buying through him again.

Dean R.

15:16 29 Dec 20

Recently, I made enquiries with Mark about buying a whisky cask.He very promptly answered all my questions and gave me all the information I needed to make an informed decision.He was thoroughly professional and there was never any pressure to buy, just support and step-by-step instructions.I am very pleased with the outcome of my cask investment and I look forward to working with Mark again in the future.

Stephen F.

13:05 22 Dec 20

Mark was thoroughly professional and efficient in helping my family get a great deal in buying some whisky casks.We received a very friendly, quick and personable service with regular updates throughout the process.Highly recommended and greatly appreciated!

Neil C.

15:53 20 Dec 20

Mark did exactly what he promised to do and achieved a good price for the whiskey cask which he sold for us. We were kept informed of what was going on and the whole transaction was hassle free.

Nigel D.

09:28 20 Dec 20

Mark was true to his word when he advised how long the process would take with selling our Cask of Whisky and what we would expect to receive. He has been very attentive and continued to provide feedback during the sale process and he managed to achieve an exceptional price for us. Thank you Mark, we will be sure to come back to you when we sell our next cask.

Diana D.

14:58 21 Nov 20

Mark was an absolute pleasure to work with. Delighted to have discovered him during an internet search researching how best to sell two casks of 50 year old Scottish whiskey. He is professional, knowledgeable and quickly responded to my endless questions. It was a smooth transaction and am very pleased with the price he was able to secure. Highly recommend!

David C.

16:42 06 Oct 20

Have several casks of high end whisky, I decided to sell one of my investments. An internet search revealed Mark Littler. Only person to respond to my email. Mark sold my first cask in weeks. New exactly what he was talking about and doing . The price was at the very high end of his valuation. He did all the work, I just signed the sales document. as easy as that. Money transferred into my account, and you are talking thousands too. Much appreciated, will now sell another cask as the time is... right.read more

Iona T.

07:14 16 Sep 20

Mark provided us with an excellent service for the sale of a cask of Springbank Whisky. He provides a professional, friendly and responsive service, guiding you every step of the way. My mother was delighted with the result. I recommend his end to end service. Thank-you!

Mike M.

08:18 15 Jul 20

Great experience from the very friendly and knowledgeable Mark who was able to help me buy a cask, and made the process seamless even during the lock down! Five star experience.

Ian B.

15:45 03 Jul 20

Mark recently helped to successfully sell my cask of Macallan single malt whisky.From our initial discussion I was impressed with the depth of his knowledge and his professional approach. Mark guided me through each step of the process, providing reasons and insights to ensure I made the correct decisions. His estimate of the value of the cask was spot on.I would have no hesitation in using his professional services again.

Steve P.

19:37 26 Mar 20

Just over 10 years ago I visited the Bruichladdich distillery and bought a newly filled fresh bourbon barrel. Having allowed it to mature I needed to decide what to do with it. Bruichladdich made an unattractive offer to buy it back.I became aware of Mark Littler, from a Google search. I contacted him based on the many positive reviews. After talking to him and learning of his experience of selling casks I commissioned him to sell my cask.Dealing with Mark has been a pleasure, he has guided... me through the process and I have received over 3 times the offer from Bruichladdich.I have found Mark to be realistic and helpful and I recommend his services.read more

James G.

10:36 26 Mar 20

Mark was excellent from start to finish in dealing with our whiskey cask sale. I highly recommend his services and wouldn’t hesitate to use him again. 5 Star!

Jacky S.

16:56 09 Mar 20

Mark sold two casks of whisky for me. He got a very good price for them and kept me informed through the rather slow process (which he had warned me about). Very pleased with the service.

John P.

00:22 30 Jan 20

I sold my Bruichladdich hogshead cask through Mark and can highly recommend his services. Immediate follow-up and a very clear outlined agreement while Mark managed to get a good price for the cask in a fairly short time period. I’m very pleased and would not hesitate to utilize his services again in the future.

Dave M.

19:54 20 Jan 20

I recently sold a 25 year old cask of Scottish whisky through Mark. The market is not easy to tap into but Mark has good connections and got me an excellent price. He made the process very simple and completed all the necessary paperwork for me. Highly recommended!

Diana M.

16:12 02 Dec 19

I had a cask of 10 year old Bruichladdich to sell. Googled potential buyers. Some traders didn’t bother to reply, even though I had sent full details.Mark was brilliant from the word go ... very professional and kept me well informed of progress. I ended up with over 50% more from him than my next best offer! Payment was very prompt.I would highly recommend Mark. Don’t waste time with the others ... they will just cause exasperation!!Thanks Mark . Pleasure doing business with you !

Brian L.

09:12 26 Sep 19

Mark was very helpful explaining me details about buying and owning a cask of whiskey - I will give him my best recommendations

R S.

12:17 02 Sep 19

Excellent services and communication! We are a group of Nordic guys, completely amateurs in the whisky market, who ended up with a cask 20 years ago when we were still quite young, without any plan about how to handle this. We were lucky to find someone like Mark, who got us a decent price and guided us through the process when we wanted to sell it. Payment and everything went smoothly overseas.

Laura F.

13:53 23 Jul 19

Really pleased that I chose Mark to broker and manage the sale of my two Bruichladdich casks. He was extremely professional, very pleasant to deal with and I was very satisfied with the price he managed to obtain for both my casks. I would have no hesitation in recommending him and his service.

Thasoula C.

12:40 12 Jul 19

Mark Littler provided what we can only describe as an outstanding service in relation to the sale of some family casks of whisky. The whole process was conducted professionally and we were kept well- informed at every stage. We thoroughly and unhesitatingly recommend anyone considering the use of an independent broker to go to Mark's firm. Thank you, Mark.Jonathan and Thasoula Campbell

Lorraine F.

11:42 11 Jul 19

Mark provided an outstanding 5 star service in the sale of our whisky casks. He gave professional & knowledgable advice & we could not be happier with the outcome. He made the often administratively tricky process of whisky cask sales seamless for us & the whole transaction was extremely efficient. Communication was excellent from start to finish & we would have no hesitation in highly recommending the service Mark offers. Do not hesitate; we will actively be seeking to use his services... again!Lorraine Flockhartread more

epi 2.

10:10 10 Jul 19

Contacted to sell cask of whisky. I could not have asked for better service, communication or completion of the process. Expectations and explanations were handled well, and everything went smoothly right up to and including the final payment for selling of the cask. If you have whisky to sell, I would make Mark Littler your first choice to handle things for you.

Adrian T.

07:51 14 Jun 19

Having decided to sell our cask of Bruicladdich (which was held at the distillery), but with no idea how to do it, we approached Mark. He informed us of the process, both by email and over the ‘phone and then found a buyer prepared to offer significantly more than the distillery buy-back offer. Mark then arranged transfer of ownership and once that was completed we were promptly paid.Thank you Mark, we couldn’t have done this without you and we were pleased to find that you lived up to you... many excellent reviews!D. Lee, A. Payne and A.Thompsonread more

rupert C.

09:20 10 Jun 19

Very easy service for the sale of a cask of whisky - Mark dealt with the transfer really impressively. Great service, many thanks

John B.

06:34 01 Jun 19

Would recommend Mark to everyone, for all the professional advise, help and expertise in relation to the sale of my casks of whisky

sophie S.

14:02 23 May 19

Mark is very professional and helpful all the way through the process of selling a cask. I really recommend Mark!

Anita W.

12:20 06 May 19

In the sale of our whisky casks Mark has been exemplaryHis honest advice and clear communication at every stage eased our path through the whole transaction. This, with the outstanding price he achieved for us, was more than impressive.We commend him highly to anyone with good whisky to sell.Thank you MarkEddie & AnitaYorkshire

Ian F.

23:01 29 Mar 19

Remarkable man. Remarkable service. The daunting prospect of how best to sell our cask of Macallan instead became a pleasure. Every aspect of the transaction was handled painlessly! Thank you Mark.

Angus M.

10:40 18 Aug 18

We recently decided to sell several casks of whisky that were left as an inheritance. Looking around online for alternatives we contacted Mark to see if a better price could be obtained than was offered by the distillery. Mark obtained a far better deal with a third party and very patiently and professionally guided us through the sales process, answering all our queries and concerns. Highly recommended.

Jerome D.

01:20 11 Aug 18

It is our very great pleasure to endorse Mr. Mark Littler. We were joint owners of a hogshead cask of Ben Nevis Single Malt whisky which Mr. Littler sold on our behalf. As Australians with very little knowledge of the complexities of selling such a product we found Mark to be knowledgeable, approachable and thorough in his dealings with ourselves, the distillery and the buyer. His personal touch was refreshing and his honesty and integrity, impeccable. He accomplished exactly what he said he... would, explaining at all times what, how and why he did it. In addition, his more than competitive fee of 10% was well justified by the excellent return he was able to achieve, in a domain that would have been totally beyond us.If there are any Australians looking for someone to sell assets such as this, feel free to ask Mark for our contact details and we will gladly speak with you about our experience.Mr J. A. P. Deakin and Dr W. E. Milesread more

Christopher H.

11:12 10 Aug 18

I approached Mark with some trepidation about the sale of a cask of whisky having no idea how to sell it. Mark is eminently knowledgeable about the resale process and before long had secured a very good offer. I was very impressed with the way Mark communicated during the process, he kept me up to date with regular calls and dealt with all the legal aspects of the sale. Well worth a five star rating and I would not hesitate to use Mark's services again.

Roger M.

14:03 08 Aug 18

An extremely helpful & professional service. Mark was always ready with advice on procedures, most of which were a totally new experience for meMy whiskey cask sale was effectively prossessed and I had every confidence that matters were dealt with efficiently. Selling my cask was a completely new experience and without Mark’s help I do not think I could have managed such a satisfying outcome. If I ever have to repeat the process I would happily engage his services again

Tim J.

10:42 24 Apr 18

From my initial contact with Mark the whole experience of selling my cask of 1989 Macallan Whisky has been a breeze. Mark was very helpful, exceedingly dedicated and totally professional at all times.It was an excellent service provided at a very reasonable cost. Mark obtained a fantastic six-figure sum for my cask which I am completely over the moon with.I would not hesitate to recommend his services to others.

Ivan A.

11:01 11 Jan 18

I have just sold a large cask of Arran whisky I purchased in 1996 after finding Mark's website and comparing his service to other brokers.I could not be happier with the sale price, it was substantial and approx two thousand more than the next best offer. Mark is very helpful and has excellent communication skills. The sale went very smoothly and promptly.I would not hesitate to use his services again and recommend him to any other sellers of high value casks.

James H.

10:34 01 Aug 17

Mark sold a cask of whisky which I had inherited and did not know what to do with. The offer I got through Mark was much higher than the distillery had offered me and the whole process was simple and best of all, profitable! He explained all of the steps I needed to take in a straightforward manner and no question was too small for him to answer. Well recommended.

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QUICK MACALLAN CASK VALUATION

Are you looking for a quick valuation on a Macallan 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.

Macallan Cask Selling FAQ

What details do I need to provide about my cask?
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)

Do you need a sample from my cask?

What happens if I want to accept your offer?
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.

What does Mark Littler LTD charge for selling a cask of whisky?

Am I tied into a contract for a certain period of time?
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 Macallan 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 a 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 Macallan 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 Macallan Distillery

Macallan’s story starts all the way back in 1824, when Alexander Reid obtained a licence to distill on the site after the 1823 Excise Act was passed. The ownership of the plant passed to James Stuart in 1868 and he decided to overhaul and rebuild the plant.

In 1892, James Stuart sold Macallan to Roderick Kent – a distilling mogul – who previously owned Talisker. The distillery stayed in the family until 1996 when Highland Distillers (now Edrington) bought Macallan.

Macallan has seen a number of expansions since its inception. In 1954 the original two stills were increased to five and then in 1965 a new stillhouse was built and seven new stills were installed. By 1975 Macallan had 21 stills at their disposal.

Macallan whisky was mostly used in blends up until the 1980s. This period saw a downturn in the market for blends, and so Macallan decided to focus more heavily on single malt expressions in order to survive. Macallan did extremely well at rebranding as a single malt, and is now considered one of the most luxurious whiskies in the world.

In the first instance, a rebranding team decided to market Macallan as a ‘first-growth whisky’. Before long, Macallan were offering bespoke casks using specific trees – mostly from northern Spain – to create their casks, drying these casks for a very specific length of time, and seasoning with Oloroso sherry. The use of these so-called bespoke casks helped curate the image of Macallan as a luxury brand that took great care in creating their whisky.

Further adding to the image of Macallan as a luxury brand like no other are the number of limited edition and special releases that have come from Macallan in recent decades. For example, the Fine & Rare series contained a bottle that dated back to 1926. The Macallan Exceptional Single Cask Series contains whiskies hand-selected by Macallan’s Master Blenders for use in the series because of their excellent and unparalleled quality. There have also been 40, 50, and 60-year-old bottlings.

In 2013, Macallan announced a new distillery would be built. The new distillery – costing £140 million – would be an undulating subterranean design. It opened officially in 2018.

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.

Sell Your Cask of Macallan Whisky