Scotland Calling: Casks, Collaborations, and a Collector’s Dream

Late March saw Whisky Cask Club return to its spiritual homeland — Scotland — for a whirlwind journey filled with tastings, warehouse visits, and inspiring conversations. From Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile to Glenrothes’ bonded vaults, the trip proved that the whisky world continues to offer new depths for those who know where to look.

A Sensory Start in Edinburgh

We began at The Scotch Whisky Experience, nestled on the Royal Mile and hosted by a wonderfully engaging Australian guide. The experience showcased the breadth of Scotch — from grand old distillery names to an eye-catching wall of miniatures and rare bottlings. For any collector, it’s a reminder that the story of whisky is as much about packaging and provenance as it is about flavour.

Casks with a Cause at Castlelaw

On Wednesday, we headed north to Castlelaw Bonded Warehouse in Glenrothes — an unassuming location on the map, but a cathedral of spirit to those who understand the value maturing quietly within its walls. Set back from the main road, past an unpretentious office, Castlelaw is where over 3,500 whisky casks rest under lock and key. The scent hits you first — that mix of oak, spirit, and time that every whisky lover instinctively knows. The kind of smell that says: here, something is happening.

We came not for show but for substance — to taste and inspect. At the heart of the visit was the 12-year-old Aberlour cask we’re preparing to bottle for Singapore’s SG60 celebration. Sampled straight from wood and planned to be released at a robust 48.8% ABV, the whisky was stunning — rich, rounded, and full of Speyside charm. It was one of those rare casks that gives you everything in the glass: aroma, complexity, and that long finish we all hope for but rarely find.

Beyond the tasting, there was work to be done. We took the opportunity to examine several client-held casks, checking fill levels, inspecting staves, and talking through maturation timelines. For clients who’ve entrusted us with their casks, these visits are crucial — part quality assurance, part pilgrimage.

But Castlelaw isn’t just about storage. It’s a growing hub in the independent whisky world. Behind its doors is a facility humming with activity: new racking systems being installed, forklifts rolling gently across concrete floors, and rows upon rows of barrels — each a silent investment of time, money, and hope. It’s here that new makes will sleep their way into greatness and where old casks await their moment in the bottle.

Julie and Iain, the team behind Castlelaw, welcomed us with warmth and a fierce sense of pride. They know every cask, every corner, every patch of that place. The mood was — as we like to say — ebullient. Talk turned quickly from updates to ambition. With new warehousing space coming online and a shared commitment to transparency and quality, it’s clear that Castlelaw will play a growing role in our future. Plans are already in motion to deepen our partnership, from logistical coordination to collaborative bottlings and even possible client events.

In a whisky world that often favours style over substance, Castlelaw is the opposite: solid, honest, essential. Our visit reminded us why the warehouse is more than a storage site — it’s where the magic actually happens.

Meeting the Keeper of the Quaich

Back in Edinburgh, we caught up with Mark Thomson, Keeper of the Quaich and a prominent voice at Duncan Taylor. Our discussion explored a promising collaboration: listing select, exceptional Duncan Taylor bottles on our soon-to-launch e-commerce platform, whiskycask.store. It’s an exciting step toward curating rare releases directly for our members — and elevating the independent bottling category in Asia.

A Fish Supper and a Retail Revelation

Dinner that night was at The White Hart, an outstanding fish spot with standout dishes and an eclectic Swiss maître d’. But it was the post-dinner walk that opened our eyes. Nearly every whisky shop along the Royal Mile, it turns out, is owned by a single family — a near-monopoly that explains the significantly higher prices in that part of the city. What’s more, the volume of independent bottlings dwarfs that of official distillery releases. For the casual shopper, it’s easy to mistake variety for competition — a reminder of how important transparency and education are in this industry.

Reflections on the Road South

The final leg took us to London — a chance to catch our breath and reflect. The trip reaffirmed what we’ve always believed: whisky is not just a drink. It’s a network, a story, and a legacy. Whether inspecting casks, planning bottlings, or building retail partnerships, Whisky Cask Club remains dedicated to keeping that legacy alive — and giving our members front-row access to it.