Whether you can bottle a whiskey barrel depends on where it is stored and how you own it. For barrels bought through our colleagues at Mark Littler Ltd it is possible to bottle all or some of your barrel for sale or personal use.
The important thing to remember when you’re bottling a barrel is the additional costs involved. As well as the cost of things like glass, capsules and labels, you will also need to think about the taxes and duty that are due when you bottle a barrel.
For the avoidance of doubt, the information here is relevant to scotch whisky barrels purchased through Mark Littler Ltd. If you own a barrel of whiskey purchased through someone other than Mark Littler Ltd then you should check directly with the seller about whether you can bottle your barrel. For example some distilleries that sell barrels state that you must bottle a barrel, while some dealers and storage warehouses are not able to offer bottling services.
Drawing Samples From A Whiskey Barrel
Many whiskey enthusiasts love the idea of tasting their own barrel of scotch as it matures. For barrels purchased through Mark Littler Ltd you can request samples through the warehouse. There is a charge to cover the paperwork, glass, taxes etc. You should also consider import and shipping costs.
Bottling A Barrel For Private Use
Some whiskey drinkers would like more than a few bottles from their barrel. Bottling all or part of a barrel is also possible but the more bottles you draw the more significant the costs you need to consider. If you would like an idea of specific costs then please explore the Cask Calculator from Mark Littler Ltd for guidance on potential costs and taxes.
Again you should also consider import and shipping fees.
Bottling A Barrel For Profit
You can bottle a barrel and sell those bottles, but it is not usually the most cost effective way to sell a whiskey barrel. The initial costs, additional taxes and licenses needed to sell whiskey all make bottling time consuming and often not that effective as a sale route.
Part bottling is possible and so if it is just that you would like some bottles to drink or as a souvenir that is usually possible and a more effective way to sell.
Ready to learn more? For detailed insights and expert tips to help you navigate your whiskey investment journey download the comprehensive Whisky Barrel Buying Guide written by the team at Mark Littler Ltd.
Our colleagues over at Mark Littler Ltd have curated their most helpful articles all in one place so you can learn more about buying and owning a barrel of scotch. If you’d like to find out more about moving forward with a barrel purchase please email [email protected].
Returns on whiskey barrels are not guaranteed and the value of casks can go down as well as up.
