The rise in demand
and consumption of whisky around the world is helping to develop a market for Scotch whisky as an investment vehicle similar to what has occurred with ultra-premium wines.
According to Whisky Highland, an investment site that foucses on investments in Scotch whisky, the number of bottles sold at auction in 2013 rose 372% in just three years. In 2013 20,211 bottles were sold compared to 5,431 in 2010.
The value of the auctions is also all on the rise. Macallan’s Scotch whisky is by far the biggest seller of single collectable bottles sold at auction in the UK, with just shy of £3.5 million of valued sales trading hands since 2008.
Matthew Hennings, from Hennings Wine, said: “As an investment right now I would look at vintage Champagne and Scotch whisky more than wine at the moment.”
In part, Scotch whisky as an investment opportunity is on the rise due to the rise in popularity of whisky globally. Depsite a crack down this year in China on luxury gift-giving, exports held steady globally, indicating demand is rising globally.
In the US for example, demand for Bourbon whiskey is forcing some premium distillers releasing cautionary statements that supplies are limited and could potentially be hard to find on shelves. For example, Buffalo Trace distillery warned last month that its more popular brands like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Blanton’s could face shortages and be hard to locate at times.
Fine wine from specific regions has been seen as an investment vehicle, particularly wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy, spawning fine wine exchange sites like Liv-Ex. However, with the lack of enthusiasm for the wines at this year’s en premier, Scotch whisky may offer a better alternative.
Whisky Highlands Index, founded by Andy Simpson, offers an opportunity to look at overall trends in the Scotch whisky market and tracks valuation changes of different producers. The top Investment Grade Scotch (IGS) 100 index has increased by almost 350% in value since Q4 2010.
The future of the Scotch whisky industry looks to be bright, with large investments being made in the next two to three years, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. However, the Scottish independence vote may have an impact on the industry as it could potentially disrupt current trade agreements if it were to go ahead.
and consumption of whisky around the world is helping to develop a market for Scotch whisky as an investment vehicle similar to what has occurred with ultra-premium wines.According to Whisky Highland, an investment site that foucses on investments in Scotch whisky, the number of bottles sold at auction in 2013 rose 372% in just three years. In 2013 20,211 bottles were sold compared to 5,431 in 2010.
The value of the auctions is also all on the rise. Macallan’s Scotch whisky is by far the biggest seller of single collectable bottles sold at auction in the UK, with just shy of £3.5 million of valued sales trading hands since 2008.
Matthew Hennings, from Hennings Wine, said: “As an investment right now I would look at vintage Champagne and Scotch whisky more than wine at the moment.”
In part, Scotch whisky as an investment opportunity is on the rise due to the rise in popularity of whisky globally. Depsite a crack down this year in China on luxury gift-giving, exports held steady globally, indicating demand is rising globally.
In the US for example, demand for Bourbon whiskey is forcing some premium distillers releasing cautionary statements that supplies are limited and could potentially be hard to find on shelves. For example, Buffalo Trace distillery warned last month that its more popular brands like Buffalo Trace, Eagle Rare and Blanton’s could face shortages and be hard to locate at times.
Fine wine from specific regions has been seen as an investment vehicle, particularly wines from Bordeaux and Burgundy, spawning fine wine exchange sites like Liv-Ex. However, with the lack of enthusiasm for the wines at this year’s en premier, Scotch whisky may offer a better alternative.
Whisky Highlands Index, founded by Andy Simpson, offers an opportunity to look at overall trends in the Scotch whisky market and tracks valuation changes of different producers. The top Investment Grade Scotch (IGS) 100 index has increased by almost 350% in value since Q4 2010.
The future of the Scotch whisky industry looks to be bright, with large investments being made in the next two to three years, according to the Scotch Whisky Association. However, the Scottish independence vote may have an impact on the industry as it could potentially disrupt current trade agreements if it were to go ahead.
