Rare Whisky News

Cutting to the heart of the Rare Whisky Market

The Rare Whisky 101 Team

General

The Scotch Watch

Whisky distilleries have, over the centuries, inspired a wealth of folklore, but few tales are as gloriously eccentric as that of the guard geese of Dumbarton Distillery. Dumbarton, that vast cathedral to grain whisky, once stood sentinel on the banks of the Leven a brooding industrial fortress, all brick and steel and the perpetual reek of fermenting mash. And, guarding this temple of spirit? Not uniformed security men, nor slavering dogs, but a flock of singularly belligerent geese.

The Rare Whisky 101 Team

General

Limited Supply, Limitless Desire

Scarcity plays a central role in almost every collectible market. Whether in art, classic cars, or fine wine, limited availability tends to increase desirability and, in many cases, long-term value.

The Rare Whisky 101 Team

General

Cask vs Bottle Investment: Drive in the right direction for 2026?

Bottles or casks — which is the smarter whisky investment in 2026? Bottles offer liquidity; casks offer long-term upside. Collaborating with distilleries or independent bottlers with access to multiple cask portfolios can help navigate pricing and exit strategies more effectively.

The Rare Whisky 101 Team

General

So You Want to Sell Your Whisky Cask?

Buying a whisky cask is usually the exciting bit. Selling it, however, tends to be where things become more complicated. Buyers want to buy well. Sellers want to sell well. Those are not always the same thing.

the robertson sisters

The Rare Whisky 101 Team

General

The Robertson Sisters: Whisky, Wealth, and Quiet Benevolence

The story of Scotch whisky is so often told in broad strokes bold men building empires, bold drams poured beside roaring fires that it’s easy to overlook the quieter figures who shaped its fortunes. Such is the case with the Robertson sisters, whose story is not only a tale of whisky itself, but of what whisky can do when guided by grace, humility, and a profound sense of duty.

Award-Winning Brewers Expand into Whisky Production with Levenbank Distillery

The Rare Whisky 101 Team

General

Award-Winning Brewers Expand into Whisky Production with Levenbank Distillery

Fiona and Euan MacEachern, who set up Loch Lomond Brewery in 2011, have recently expanded into spirits production, creating West Highland Spirits gins and vodka at their Dumbarton-based distillery on the banks of the River Leven. Now, they are taking their expertise one step further with Levenbank Distillery set to become the Lowlands’ newest whisky producer.

Grant Fraser

General

The Rise of Indian Whisky: A New Era for Whisky Enthusiasts

For decades, India has been one of the biggest consumers of Scotch whisky, even surpassing France in 2023 to become the largest market for Scotch by volume, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. However, a shift is underway, and the world’s largest whisky market may soon turn its focus inward.

Gavin D Smith

General

Against the Grain?

Distillers the world over have to comply with prevailing regulations, sometimes finding them overly restrictive and wishing for greater freedom to innovate.

Andy Simpson

General

Monthly Rare Whisky Report: October 2018.

With many iconic bottles smashing previous record values and the sale of the 1926 Macallan Adami fetching a staggering £848,000 (£700,000 without auction commission), October has cemented itself as being the biggest single month ever, by both volume and value, for whisky sales at auction in the UK.

Grant Fraser

General

Monthly Rare Whisky Review for March 2018

So far March 2018 has provided fascinating reading and some very strong results in the UK secondary market. Both volume and value are showing marked increases confirming the market is still in a very positive place, increasing, month on month.