The Whiskey Wash has partnered with Nc’nean to offer a small selection of new make scotch whisky barrels.
If you want to own a barrel of scotch The Nc’nean cask programme is a fantastic way to get involved with an innovative new distillery that is establishing itself as a globally renowned brand.
Find out more about the programme and how to apply.
Nc’nean is an independent, organic scotch whisky distillery on the west coast of Scotland. The team produce an award winning, unpeated single malt whisky and are leading the way for new whisky distilleries in Scotland.
Via our colleagues at Mark Littler Ltd., The Whiskey Wash has partnered with Nc’nean to offer a small selection of new make scotch whisky barrels to fans in search of the ultimate whisky purchase; a whole cask.
The barrels will be stored at the Nc’nean warehouses, maturing in the fresh coastal climate until your whisky is ready to be bottled.
Please note, these barrels are sold directly by the distillery and may not be suitable for everyone as they must be bottled at maturity. If you would like to find out more about buying a cask from Nc’nean please see the FAQs below for more information and submit an enquiry using the form below to find out the next steps.
Nc’nean is an independent organic whisky distillery founded in 2017 on Scotland’s Morvern peninsula near Drimnin, overlooking the Isle of Mull.
Working with the late Dr. Jim Swan, Nc’nean has established itself as an innovative producer emphasizing both environmental responsibility and flavor experimentation.
Production focuses on creating fruity, elegant unpeated single malts through experimental techniques, including varying yeast strains (traditional distiller’s yeast and winemaker’s yeast), extended fermentation times, and maturation primarily in specially treated red wine and bourbon casks.
The results speak for themselves as the whisky has quickly gained international renown.
The distillery is named after Neachneohain, the Gaelic “Queen of Spirits” and fierce protector of nature. It was established by Annabel Thomas with a mission to create experimental spirits through sustainable production methods.
The distillery operates entirely on renewable energy using a biomass boiler fueled by local wood chips, and became the first UK whisky distillery verified as net zero carbon emissions for scopes 1 and 2 in 2021. It’s also B Corp certified and uses 100% organic Scottish barley sourced from local farms. Nc’nean pioneered the use of 100% recycled glass bottles in the Scotch industry and diverts over 99% of its waste from landfills.
The distillery produces several whisky series including their core organic single malt, the Quiet Rebels series, and the experimental Huntress range, alongside other limited edition whiskies, liqueurs and botanical spirits.
Barrel prices start at £4,400, including 5 years storage.
Availability of different cask sizes and types varies, please get in touch using the form above to find out current availability and prices.
Cask types include barrels and hogsheads and styles include Ex-bourbon, STR wine casks and Ex-oloroso sherry casks.
Please note that cask availability varies and you should get in touch using the form above to find out current availability and prices.
These casks are intended for bottling and private use. You cannot sell the cask whole in bond without first offering it to Nc’nean.
Final bottle count is variable. Bottle numbers depend on:
– The original size of the cask,
– The rate of natural evaporation, which averages 1 to 4% to year,
– The bottling strength.
On fill standard casks can contain up to:
– A barrel filled at 200liters would have around 285 70cl bottles at cask strength.
– A hogshead filled at 250 liters would have around 357 70cl bottles at cask strength.
These levels drop over time due to natural evaporation, and original fill levels vary slightly too.
Bottling costs depend on the number of bottles and the taxes at the time of bottling. We suggest exploring the Mark Littler Ltd Cask Calculator to find out more about bottling a cask of whisky.
Estimated costs: bottled at cask strength after 5 years in Nc’nean house bottles
-Bourbon barrel: £4,400
-UK Duty: £3,445
-Bottling cost: £1,482
-UK VAT: £1,865
-Total: £11,193
Estimated per bottle cost: £45
The purchase includes storage for a minimum of 5 years, but storage can be extended to 10 years.
If you wish to mature your cask for longer than five years you can pay £500 to secure an additional five years of storage.
Your cask will be matured in the Nc’nean bonded warehouses.
Casks are filled on a date of your choosing and you can be present during the filling.
Once the cask is filled you can arrange a visit to the distillery to see your cask by appointment during normal opening hours.
Bottling will be done in the Nc’nean house style unless an alternative is requested. Nc’nean will try to accommodate any reasonable requests for customisation of the bottle, packaging and labelling that don’t adversely impact their brand. Any customisation is done at your own cost.
UK residency is not necessary to own a cask of Nc’nean whisky.
New make spirit is the term for freshly distilled spirit produced by distilleries. The spirit isn’t classed as scotch whisky until it has spent three or more years in an oak cask.
You will be buying these casks direct from a WOWGR registered warehouse and therefore you do not require a separate delivery order—a delivery order is a document verified by the warehousekeeper, which in this case is also the seller. You will receive terms of sale and an invoice for your cask to prove ownership.
In 2022 Nc’nean became a certified B Corporation, joining a select group of UK businesses committed to placing social and environmental responsibility on equal terms with profit.
B Corp certification is awarded by the not-for-profit organisation B Lab to companies meeting rigorous standards across governance, community, people, and environmental impact.
In 2025, Nc’nean passed its recertification with an impressive score of 147.6, up from its initial 135.6 and well above the UK B Corp average of 88.
Key achievements include water recycling systems, low-carbon manufacturing, use of 100% recycled glass, and increased local employment across their Scottish operations.
Nc’nean has earned growing recognition both for its whisky and its pioneering ethos. Its flagship organic single malt has taken home international medals, including Gold at the San Francisco Spirits Competition and honours at the International Wine & Spirits Competition.
Nc’nean was ranked 21st in Drinks International’s Most Admired Whisky Brands in the World—a remarkable achievement for such a young, independent distillery.
The distillery’s sustainability has been celebrated too, winning Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the World Whiskies Awards and Craft Producer of the Year at the Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards.
Nc’nean’s commitment to environmental leadership has also been recognised by B Corp itself, including inclusion in the Best for the World list for environmental impact.
