Uncommon Scotch whisky costs surge on investor flight to security

Uncommon whiskies have emerged among the many greatest beneficiaries as volatility in monetary markets sparked a flight to security and youthful traders fuelled demand for tangible belongings.

Sturdy investor demand has pushed the worth of “high-quality and uncommon” single malts up by greater than a fifth this 12 months with volumes leaping 23 per cent, based on a report by Scottish funding financial institution Noble & Co.

In distinction, the FTSE 100 and S&P 500 have traded flat this 12 months.

The Edinburgh-based funding financial institution mentioned the report, carried out with knowledge science firm Brainnwave, tracked about 580,000 transactions in whisky auctions held over the previous decade.

The report provides to proof of the resilience of whisky, the mainstay of Scotland’s £15bn food and drinks business, within the face of a value of residing disaster the world over.

In 2021, Scotch whisky accounted for 75 per cent of Scottish food and drinks exports, 22 per cent of all UK food and drinks exports, and 1.4 per cent of all UK items exports, based on the Scotch Whisky Affiliation.

Noble & Co mentioned market turmoil had strengthened the standing of bottles of uncommon whisky as different investments.

Duncan McFadzean, head of Meals & Drink at Noble & Co, mentioned the expansion in public sale gross sales was principally pushed by bottle costs between £100 and £1,000, indicating curiosity from youthful patrons preferring tangible belongings to monetary devices, and from these shopping for presents.

In that phase, the worth elevated by 40 per cent whereas volumes had risen 30 per cent within the first three quarters of this 12 months to the top of September in contrast with the identical interval in 2021.

“Whisky nonetheless appears to be a well-liked asset to carry in your portfolio,” he mentioned, including that there was no indication but that market turmoil, slowing economies and rising rates of interest had been hurting demand. “However I wouldn’t need to predict it massively for subsequent 12 months.”

Elite Wine & Whisky, an funding firm that gives investment-grade whisky to personal shoppers, mentioned it had seen a soar in demand after then chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s “mini” Funds in September despatched the pound and UK authorities bond costs tumbling.

The corporate has elevated turnover 70 per cent up to now this 12 months to £17mn, from £10mn in 2021. Within the six weeks after the “mini” Funds, it obtained the identical quantity of inquiries from potential collectors that it might usually get in three months.

“We noticed a variety of traders, spooked by what was taking place within the markets, come to us to have a look at investing in whisky casks instead choice,” mentioned Nick Greene, managing associate at Elite Wine & Whisky.

A growth within the whisky market and distilleries has prompted questions on whether or not there’s a bubble pushed partly by an excessive amount of optimism over a possible commerce deal between India and the UK.

“The market has an enormous, international infrastructure fuelled by intelligence and a world community that’s closely invested in, which is why discuss of a bubble isn’t one thing we imagine in,” mentioned Greene. “We might welcome an FTA [free trade agreement] with India however I wouldn’t say we now have wagered an excessive amount of on this.”