For your peace of mind.
Client casks can be held in HMRC-approved bonded warehouses, insured while in storage and supported by proper records. Here is how storage, insurance and access work.
Bonded warehouses
Casks are typically stored in HMRC-approved bonded warehouses — secure facilities where spirit is held under duty suspension while it matures. Holding a cask in bond means duty and VAT are not paid while the spirit remains stored, which is one of the practical features of cask ownership.
HMRC supervision
Bonded warehouses operate under HMRC oversight. This framework governs how spirit is stored, recorded and moved while in bond. It is part of what gives cask storage its structure — though the specific terms always sit with the individual warehouse.
Storage arrangements and warehouse accounts
Your cask can be held under a warehouse account. Where available, this can be your own private account, giving you a direct relationship with the warehouse. Storage is charged periodically — typically an annual cost per cask — which we set out clearly before you proceed.
Insurance
Casks are insured while held in the bonded warehouse, subject to the applicable warehouse terms and conditions. Insurance arrangements and the basis of cover vary between warehouses, so we will explain the cover applicable to your cask. Cover applies while the cask is in storage under those terms.
Insurance is subject to the warehouse’s terms. It is important to understand the basis and limits of cover — we will point you to the relevant terms so you can review them.
Samples and regauging
You can request a sample of your cask, drawn under warehouse supervision, to assess how the liquid is developing. Regauging — a formal measurement of the remaining volume and strength — can also be arranged, and is useful when valuing a cask or preparing it for sale. Both may carry a cost, which we set out in advance.
Client visits
Where permitted by the warehouse, visits can be arranged so you can see your cask and the facility in which it is stored. Access depends on the individual warehouse’s policies and operational requirements.
Discuss your whisky portfolio with an experienced cask specialist
Whether you are acquiring your first cask, building a larger collection or reviewing an existing portfolio, our team can provide a clear, considered assessment of the options available to you.