Scotch Whisky

Welcome to the second edition of Scotch Whisky, the annual publication from the team behind Whisky Magazine. On these pages, we have curated a collection of key stories from the world of Scotch whisky that provide a thorough overview of where things stand. We begin with some advice on building a collection, with a guide on how to win at whisky auctions and ensure that you're only adding authentic bottles to your shelves. The auction side of the whisky business has exploded during the past decade, and there are pros and cons to working with different auction houses. Our guide helps demystify this confusing area, and following its advice will ensure you're feeling confident when the time comes to bid. Next, we've delved into the murky world of cask investment. As…

I’ve often joked with friends that there’s no such thing as a whisky collection growing too big, only a house that’s grown too small. I’m sure many of you know the feeling: every cupboard full to bursting, each shelf groaning under the weight of glass and liquid, miniatures in every drawer – I pity the disorganised whisky lover who also craves a minimalist aesthetic in their home. In fact, it’s exactly the act of organisation, consideration and planning that I feel separates my own explosion of whiskies, which resembles a tragic accident at a bottling hall, from true ‘collections.’ Even those collections which develop organically seem to grow with some sort of goal (of which the collector may not be consciously aware) that in time delivers a degree of aesthetic and…

The trading of whisky has become such big business that long-established UK auctioneering names such as Bonhams, Christie’s and Sotheby’s now host dedicated whisky sales in a variety of locations around the world, including the USA, Hong Kong and Dubai, while the number of dedicated online whisky auction houses has proliferated to a remarkable degree during the past decade. By nature of their specialisation, these houses have largely succeeded in concentrating vintage whisky knowledge within their teams, while also tapping into whisky communities to highlight upcoming sales and achieve higher hammer prices. What’s more, high-profile and widely marketed auctions of large private collections, such as Richard Gooding’s ‘Perfect Collection’, Pat’s Whisk(e)y Collection and Emmanuel Dron’s collection of rare Samaroli and Corti Brothers whiskies (all brought to auction by Perthshire-based Whisky Auctioneer),…

Investment in whisky is nothing new, but history has shown that there is good reason to exercise caution if one is looking to take up a financial interest – though the nature and extent of the risk involved varies depending on the type of investment. The most traditional and secure way to invest is by doing so directly in whisky or spirits companies via the stock market. Several of the larger distillers are seen as prime stock options and are often recommend as a way to diversify a growing portfolio – Diageo, Pernod Ricard, AB InBev and Brown-Forman are all publicly traded, for instance. Rare and limited bottles have certainly turned the heads of whisky speculators in recent years, but getting the right bottles can be tricky due to the ever-growing demand.…

Back in late 2019, regular contributors to Whisky Magazine were asked to gaze into their crystal balls and predict what was around the corner (issue #164, ‘2020 Visions’). I certainly wouldn’t have predicted that Scotland would soon be home to the world’s first distillery with a restaurant holding a Michelin star, as is now the case at The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant in Crieff. Having been lucky enough to dine there, I can say that the team has really raised the bar regarding what one can expect from a ‘luxury’ whisky experience. Perhaps, in the future, one will be able to take a gastronomic tour of Scotland made up entirely of distillery restaurants. Who knows? One thing I wrote of that did come to pass was a continued ‘boutique-ification’ of whisky retail…

There are several elements that need to be put in place to establish a successful whisky distillery: location is the most important, closely followed by having the right team in place. With regards to the former, Ardnahoe Distillery couldn’t have a better placement, perched as it is on Islay’s northern coast and overlooking the Isle of Jura. As for the latter, it is family bonds, as well as vast industry experience, that ensures the company behind the project had the strongest possible foundations on which to build Islay’s ninth working distillery. Overseen by patriarch Stewart Laing – a whisky veteran who has worked in the industry for almost 60 years – the project saw the experienced managing director, along with sons Scott and Andrew, take the next step in the evolution…