Distilleries & Whisky insurance

Just like you, we don't settle for 'good enough'

In 2022, 53 bottles of Scotch Whisky were exported to around 180 markets around the world every second, totalling 1.6bn every year. Scotch Whisky exports were worth £6.2bn and accounted for 77% of Scottish food and drink exports and 25% of all UK food and drink exports.

More than 11,000 people are directly employed in the Scotch Whisky industry in Scotland and over 42,000 jobs across the UK.

There are currently 146 operating Scotch Whisky distilleries across Scotland, with some 22 million casks maturing in warehouses waiting to be discovered - that's around 12bn 70cl bottles.
 
English Whisky is an emerging industry with over 49 distilleries either distilling currently or with plans to start distilling by 2025. It's an industry that's increasingly recognised throughout the world - having won Best Single Malt Whisky (London based World Whisky Awards February 2022) beating 25 other country finalists in a blind tasting competition) as well as many gold members, both in the UK and abroad.

There's no ceiling to the potential sales growth and value English Whisky can contribute to the World Whisky market, which is forecast to grow from $68bn in 2022 to over $108bn by 2031.

The volume of spirit produced by English distilleries was forecast to grow 189% from 2019 – 2024, with a forecast of c. 500,000 maturing casks of English Whisky predicted to be laid down by distilleries by end of 2024. The value of this English Whisky maturing stock is forecast to exceed £1bn over the same period. 
 
We recognise that like good malts, every whisky risk is different. This also applies to the insurance programme, it must be tailored to the risks of the whisky industry, but unique to the business.

Insurance can be designed to meet those requirements.

We work closely with many whisky companies to resolve such complexities. Our dedicated practice has an unrivalled understanding and knowledge of the insurance challenges facing the industry. We have experience in providing risk-based solutions and designing appropriate insurance programmes and risk management solutions. We understand that the industry is diverse, and no two companies are the same. 
 

Examples of risks we insure include:

• Distilleries
• Independent bottlers and blenders
• Bonded warehouse operators
• Whisky brokers
• Bulk spirit traders
• Cask investment companies
• Cooperages
• Haulage & transport
• Consultants
• Private and Rare Whisky Collections