If you want to make a different investment in 2023, consider buying whisky bottles or casks. In alternative investments, especially in markets that need to be regulated, it can be hard to know where to start.
The first thing to think about when investing in whisky is how much time you have and what you want to get out of it. Whisky is usually a good investment for the medium to long term.
Growth in the middle to long term
Whisky bottle investments give you the freedom to respond to changing markets. Still, the best long-term growth usually comes from vintage collectible bottles like vintage Macallan or older discontinued releases from companies like Port Ellen, where something is going on in the background to drive up prices. Our in-depth bottle investment guide has more information about the market.
When the price of a vintage bottle stays the same over time, it’s easier to predict growth and figure out what the future might hold. You can get an idea of how well these bottles have done over time and what the future may hold. Most of these bottles won’t grow by three figures in a few months, but they grow steadily based on data. They may be a safer investment than the types of bottles we’ll talk about next.
The problem with investing in old and rare bottles is that it can be more exciting. They are long-term investments that are pretty stable, so there aren’t any big jumps in value like there are with alternative investments.
Growth in the next few years
Alternative investments are often looked at as a way to make quick money in the short term. In the world of whisky, this is usually done by “flipping,” which is just buying something when it comes out in the hopes that it will sell out, and you can then sell it on the secondary market for more.
The best way to make money flipping whisky bottles is to win or buy a new bottle of Macallan when it comes out. You must sign up for an account to vote on the Macallan website. Most of their ballots and releases sell out quickly, and the lucky winners then sell their bottles on the secondary market to people who missed out on the first release. Flipping is safe as long as you are quick enough to sell the bottle, but it has moral implications and the risks are high because the prices of second-hand bottles can drop quickly and change a lot, even for a month.
You can flip bottles that aren’t Macallan, but the risks are usually higher because the prices on the secondary market aren’t as stable as they are for Macallan.