Uncover a new chapter for rare whisky with this newly launched initiative.
In Scotland, tradition runs as deep as the spirit itself, flowing from cask to glass. With Artisan Casks, the newly launched initiative from The Artisanal Spirits Company plc, collectors move beyond merely observing to become architects of their own golden age of whisky. Amid turbulence in the rare whisky market, Artisan Casks offers a timeless proposition: provenance, passion, and the promise of legacy.
Rather than a departure, the programme draws on four decades of expertise. Over 40 years, the company has curated rare casks from over 100 renowned distilleries—including Macallan, Bowmore, and Laphroaig—each selected for its impeccable provenance and promise of excellence. Each year, as few as six or seven ultra-rare casks—typically 20 years old or more—are released, underlining the genuine exclusivity of the programme.
A Wealth of Experience
The Artisanal Spirits team brings formidable pedigree. Private Client Director, James Mackay, spearheaded Diageo’s acclaimed Casks of Distinction programme; Paul Skipworth, now a senior non-executive director and shareholder, previously led The Glenmorangie Company; while Chairman Mark Hunter brings global experience from his time as CEO of Molson Coors. Alongside other key figures, they embody deep experience and insight into what drives and delights whisky lovers.
The Company is perhaps best known for its 40,000 plus international membership group, the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), which sells bottles, rather than casks, and includes private members’ clubs located in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. There is also a new, purpose-built warehouse in Glasgow where most of the company’s casks are stored. From this foundation, Artisan Casks distills its heritage into an offering that stands among the most exclusive in the Scotch whisky world today.
Crafting the Liquid Narrative
To those who pursue it, rare whisky ownership is rarely about utilitarian consumption. Here, the cask assumes a near-ceremonial role: not merely a vessel, but a canvas awaiting interpretation. In the Artisan Casks model, ownership is complete and entirely private. Decisions on maturation and bottling are taken in partnership with whisky makers, giving custodians the chance to shape the liquid’s path to completion.
Much of this takes place close to the source. Casks are matured and bottled in facilities adjacent to the warehouses themselves, a detail that reflects the company’s heritage and distinguishes it from larger-scale operators. The programme draws on the expertise of specialists who have overseen private cask holdings of some of the world’s most prominent collections.
Collectors as Curators
Whereas conventional bottlings arrive preordained, cask ownership involves ongoing interpretation. Each cask released through Artisan Casks carries the potential to be bottled immediately or allowed to mature further, depending on the owner’s vision. For those who choose to let their casks mature longer, there is no additional cost, however long the wait before bottling.
Prices begin around £50,000 and extend well into six figures, driven by provenance, age, and distillery. While costs vary by market, the purchase includes storage, bottling, and presentation, an acknowledgment that the experience is intended to be as seamless as it is considered.
The focus here is scarcity with substance. Every cask is unique; every owner leaves a personal imprint on its journey. In keeping with this ethos, once casks are bottled, labels include the name of the distillery where the liquid was sourced and the barrel number: “These are non-commercial bottlings, unique to each cask buyer. From bottle shape to cork stopper, every detail can be tailored, giving owners freedom to personalise as they wish,” says Mackay.
Community and Connection
Private whisky ownership can be a solitary pursuit—yet the Artisan Casks framework deliberately emphasises community. As Mackay puts it: “The whisky is fundamental, but the next most important part is the experience. Once collectors meet as cask owners, connections are forged instantly.”
Owners enter a discreet circle of peers through curated gatherings—behind-the-scenes distillery visits, intimate tastings, and invitation-only dinners in Scotland and major international cities. These occasions frame whisky not as possession, but as shared expression.
As Mackay notes: “The experience becomes just as important as the whisky—the sharing, the stories, the connections built.” A recent event on board a luxury yacht in Monaco is a case in point, “bringing together cask owners to share their unique bottles. These gatherings are staged with subtlety and at no additional cost—the only ‘membership fee’ is the purchase of a cask”.
To help build this sense of connection with other cask buyers and the cask itself, owners are invited up to Scotland every year to draw up to two bottles as samples from their casks. “This allows owners to build a library of their whisky, charting its evolution until the time comes to bottle the cask—and to share that journey with friends and fellow owners,” Mackay explains.
The 2025 Collection: Tasting Notes
The following casks, each exceptionally rare even by their distilleries’ standards, comprise the majority of the first Artisan Casks release.
Macallan 1993 – Cask #305118
📍 £589,000 | 53.8% ABV | 32 Years Old | 246 Bottles
Maturation: 30 years in refill ex-bourbon hogshead, finished 2 years in first-fill Spanish oak Pedro Ximénez sherry hogshead.
Nose: Deep polished leather, dark plum, fig, and oxidative dried fruits. Cocoa nib and old church pews evolve into sweet raisin and gently spiced sandalwood.
Palate: Intense yet refined—prune, black cherry, molasses, with cumin and polished mahogany. A mouth-filling richness balanced by subtle citrus oil.
Finish: Long and authoritative, with dried fruits, espresso, and distant woodsmoke fading into supple oak and fine tannins.
Bunnahabhain 2004 – Cask #903350
📍 £50,000 | 58.9% ABV | 20 Years Old | 238 Bottles
Maturation: 19 years in refill Oloroso hogshead, 1.5 years in first fill PX sherry cask.
Nose: Brine, menthol smoke, cassis, and clean sherry sweetness.
Palate: Rounded expression with some weight; caraway, anise, polished spice, tropical fruit brightness, and mellow peat—a vivid Islay expression.
Finish: Rich, silky, and persistent, with Christmas spice and coastal nuance.
Bowmore 2004 – Cask #161217
📍 £91,000 | 56.0% ABV | 21 Years Old | 244 Bottles
Maturation: 17 years in second fill Bourbon, 3.5 years in second fill PX sherry cask.
Nose: Orchard fruits—pear, apple, apricot—vanilla pod, honey, and a whisper of elegant peat smoke.
Palate: Vanilla, polished leather, salted caramel, stewed stone fruits, with briny undertones; allspice, citrus, and sweet oak weave into smoke.
Finish: Long, clean, and sophisticated, with fruit and oak in exquisite balance.
Laphroaig 1998 – Cask #151797
📍 £109,000 | 58.2% ABV | 26 Years Old | 225 Bottles
Maturation: 22 years in refill Bourbon, 3.5 years in first fill Oloroso sherry cask.
Nose: Rich sherry married to hallmark Islay peat—molasses, black banana, and charred pineapple.
Palate: Silky mouthfeel—smoked meat, maritime iodine, classic medicinal Laphroaig, framed by dark dried fruits.
Finish: Bold, peaty, and enduring, with smouldering embers and maritime salinity.
Mortlach 1987 – Cask #304589
📍 £143,000 | 44.6% ABV | 33 Years Old | 239 Bottles
Maturation: 31 years refill Oloroso and 2 years first fill PX sherry wood.
Nose: Plum compote, cassis liqueur, and fig, alongside leather-bound books and meaty Mortlach heft.
Palate: Elegant in profile yet retaining Mortlach’s signature weight: spiced date loaf, clove, treacle toffee, walnut, and black cherry, underpinned by waves of umami and hint of peat.
Finish: Classy, robust and lingering, with dried fruit and savoury depth in harmony.
Glen Grant 1994 – Cask #305100
📍 £89,000 | 46.8% ABV | 31 Years Old | 182 Bottles
Maturation: Nearly three decades in refill bourbon oak, finished 2.5 years in first-fill American oak Oloroso sherry cask.
Nose: Dates, golden sultanas, wildflower honey, almond, and light oak char.
Palate: Smooth and complex—toasted hazelnut, cigar humidor, soft dark honey; velvety texture balancing sweetness and a trace of smoke.
Finish: Refined excellence, with fading tobacco leaf, warm oak spice, and lingering dried fruits. Among the collection tasted, the Glen Grant stands out for its balance of refinement and value.
Glenrothes 1991 – Cask #304570
📍 £93,000 | 53.8% ABV | 33 Years Old | 209 Bottles
Maturation: 31 years in refill Oloroso, 2 years in first fill PX sherry cask.
Nose: Honeyed fruit, lemon cake, vanilla, gentle heather, delicate spice and herbal undertones.
Palate: Full-bodied and elegant, zesty with malt and fudge, stewed fruit, nutmeg with hints of licorice and herbal savouriness.
Finish: Long and warming, earthy spice persistence.
Navigating a Complex Market
The appeal of rare whisky casks is tempered by challenges. The secondary market remains fragmented, with uneven regulation and occasional instances of fraud making expertise and transparency critical. Artisan Casks counters these risks with uncompromising provenance, expert stewardship of storage and bottling, and clear guidance on maturity and timing.
From Asset to Legacy
Perhaps the most enduring feature of the programme lies not in possession but in succession. Unlike conventional collectables, private cask ownership offers the opportunity to enshrine personal narratives within the spirit itself. Each bottling becomes both record and gift—uncorked at anniversaries, passed down through generations, or shared in moments of significance.
For those who view whisky not as a financial instrument but as an heirloom of craftsmanship, memory, and artistry, the true allure lies here: the chance to shape not just a cask, but a legacy.
Lewis Chester DipWSET is a London-based wine & rare spirit collector and writer, member of the Académie du Champagne and Chevaliers du Tastevin, co-founder of Liquid Icons and, along with Sasha Lushnikov, the founder of the Golden Vines® Awards. He is also Honorary President and Head of Fundraising at the Gérard Basset Foundation, which funds diversity & inclusivity education programmes globally in the wine, spirits & hospitality sectors. The Golden Vines® 2025 will take place in Miami, USA between 7-9 November 2025, recognising the world’s best fine wine estates as voted by hundreds of fine wine professionals. Please register your interest for tickets on the website: https://liquidicons.com/work/golden-vines-awards.
