The Future of Whisky Investment
Lots has happened in the world of whisky investment over the past decade. We've seen some casks and even individual bottles go for seven figures. New distilleries have opened, and the indie bottling scene is booming. And it’s become easier than ever to invest in whisky casks.
It's impossible to predict the future, but that doesn't mean it’s not fun to try. So here are a dozen predictions for the future of whisky investment. Let us know which you think are the most likely, and the most unlikely, in the blog comments below!
A dozen predictions for the future of whisky investment
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Expanding global demand: The demand for premium and rare whiskies will continue to grow in emerging markets, such as China, India, and Latin America, leading to higher prices.
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Rise of new world regions: Whiskies from new world regions like Japan, Taiwan, and India will continue to gain recognition and market share, providing both drinks and investors with ever-more choice.
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Sustainability initiatives: Distilleries will increasingly adopt eco-friendly practices, leading to a positive brand image and potentially higher values placed on sustainable whisky producers.
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Blockchain adoption: Blockchain technology will become more prevalent in the whisky industry, aiming to increase the authenticity and provenance of rare bottles and casks, which could lead to more investor confidence.
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Growth of online whisky platforms: Online platforms dedicated to whisky investment might continue to grow, making it easier to trade bottles and casks globally.
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Whisky cask investment boom: The popularity of whisky cask investments will continue to rise, as investors look for unique and potentially more profitable investment opportunities within the whisky market.
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Collaboration and innovation: Distilleries will increasingly collaborate and experiment with new production methods, barrel finishes, and unusual ingredients, leading to the creation of unique and collectible whiskies with high investment potential.
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Limited edition releases: The trend of limited edition and special release whiskies will continue, with an increased focus on creating exclusive bottlings that appeal to collectors and investors.
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Impact of climate change: Climate change could potentially affect whisky production in various ways, such as altering the availability or quality of raw materials or impacting the speed whisky ages. These changes may lead to shifts in the whisky investment landscape.
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Regulatory changes: Changes in global import/export regulations or tariffs could impact the whisky investment market, creating both challenges and opportunities for investors, depending on the nature of the changes.
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Whisky tourism growth: As interest in whisky investment and appreciation expands, whisky tourism will experience a boom, with more visitors seeking distillery tours, tastings, and exclusive experiences. This increased tourism may drive up the demand and value of locally produced whiskies.
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Artificial Intelligence: The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in whisky production and blending will lead to new innovations and potentially create whiskies with unique, tailored flavour profiles.
What does the future of whisky investment hold for you?
While the above are fun musings, the future is inherently uncertain - and can include both positives and negatives. If you'd like to discuss the future of whisky investment further, please contact us here. We'd be delighted to explore together.
1 comment
“Artificial Intelligence: The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in whisky production and blending will lead to new innovations and potentially create whiskies with unique, tailored flavour profiles.”
Is whisky desirability and value directly proportional to flavour and complexity? On a certain level, I would say – yes! Especially in terms of the general or popular market.
But on the level of the collector, investor, and the connoisseur, the whole concept of desirability and value of a whisky is very subjective and founded in tradition and the aesthetics – an appreciation of the art and narrative.
Would Ai enhance that or destroy it? The value of a Rembrandt or Monet is in the history and provenance, perhaps more than the quality of the painting – but the quality is a reflection of the exceptional talent, dedication, of the artist. The art represents the raising up of the human to an exceptional level, isn’t this also where the value lies? The achievements of an Olympic champion are valued because of the same principle and not by the mere fact of crossing a line first or lifting the heaviest weight, they are just tangible manifestations of everything that came before and is contained in the person of interest. If a robot was made that could outrun Usain Bolt – so what, nobody would value that in terms of an exceptional achievement of a champion. How would we perceive and value a whisky made by Ai and robots with significantly reduced human input? How far away from exceptional human achievement, the art and craft in the process of production that is bound up in the providence and tradition could we go before the value is depreciated despite any perceived advancement in unique flavour profiles?