Decoding secret distillery on independent bottles
Have you noticed that some independent bottlings don’t show the distillery’s name on their labels? You might see labels like “Secret Islay” or “Secret Speyside.” Or, there may be picutures hinting at the whisky’s region. This mysterious labeling sparks intriguing stories. It also highlights a key concept in the cask whisky trade: the naming rights of casks.
What are cask naming rights?
“Naming rights” refers to the right to show the original distillery’s name on the label when bottling. This key factor in the cask whisky trading market is essential and should not be ignored.
Distilleries often sell their cask whisky using aliases or without naming rights, primarily to protect their brand equity and uniqueness (such as flavour profile), which are not directly related to the quality of the whisky.
Therefore, when independent bottlers buy entire casks of whisky, they are sometimes restricted from putting the distillery name on the label; hence the appearance of labels like “Secret Islay” or “Secret Speyside.”
Casks with Full Naming Rights vs. No Naming Rights
Casks with full naming rights usually cost more. This is especially true for those from famous distilleries.
Some independent bottlers prefer casks without full naming rights. They value the whisky’s flavour and lower price.
While naming rights are important, we recommend evaluating a cask based on multiple factors. Consider the pricing, the whisky’s quality, and the after-sales services. These include sample drawing, storage, and bottling.
Here are two common sources of unnamed casks in the cask trading market:
Secret Casks
Some casks are sold without naming rights and are therefore described by their regional names, such as “Secret Speyside” and “Secret Islay.”
These casks may come from famous Scottish whisky distilleries. They lack naming rights, but experienced enthusiasts can identify the distillery by taste.
The decision not to disclose the distillery name does not relate to the quality of the whisky. Sometimes, you might discover hidden gems from these secret casks.
Here are common reasons why distillery names cannot be disclosed:
- It was originally to be base whisky for blends. The distillery sold excess casks.
- Doesn’t fit the distillery’s established style
- It comes from the old stock of major bottling companies. They want to sell their inventory.
- Distilleries want to protect their brands.
Growth in Secret Cask Sales
Over the past two years, the number of secret casks we’ve sold has not only hit new highs but also shown a continuing upward trend. This growth can be attributed to several factors:
- High quality: These secret casks are known for their high quality, often matching that of well-known brands.
- Attractive Pricing: These casks lack a brand premium. So, they are often sold at lower prices.
Appeal to Bottlers
This perfect combination of high quality and low price has made secret casks a popular choice among independent bottlers. Whether it’s drinkers seeking unique flavours or bottlers looking for quality whiskies, both have shown strong interest and continued demand for these types of casks.
Teaspooned Casks
A “teaspooned cask” is when a distillery adds a teaspoon of whisky from another distillery when selling. For example, Balvenie typically adds “a teaspoon” of whisky from another distillery to the original casks they sell, then sells them under the name Burnside.
Quality and Flavour Profile
Whisky experts generally believe that teaspooned casks are indistinguishable from the original single malt single cask whiskies in terms of aroma, taste, and flavor profile. After all, a teaspoon of whisky is only a few milliliters, which has minimal impact when added to hundreds of liters of single cask whisky. These casks have the quality of famous distilleries’ whiskies but do not rely on brand popularity.
The mystery of teaspooned casks and secret single casks brings the joy of exploration, inspiring people to taste and guess the distillery.
Here are some common distilleries that sell casks under alternative names:
- Allt Mhor – Aultmore
- Ardlair – Ardmore (unpeated)
- Auchinderrom – Peated Glenglassaugh
- Ballygrant – Bunnahabhain (unpeated)
- Blairfindy – Glenfarclas
- Blue Hill – Craigellachie
- Burnside – Teaspooned Balvenie (Blended Whisky)
- Cawdor Springs – Royal Brackla
- Croftengea – Loch Lomond (Peated)
- Dalrymple – Ailsa Bay
- Fortrie – Macduff
- Glenshiel – Glenrothes
- Inchfad – Loch Lomond (Heavily Peated)
- Kintail – Macallan
- Kildalton – Ardbeg
- Ledaig – Tobermory (Peated)
- Lochindaal – Bruichladdich (Peated)
- Port Charlotte – Bruichladdich (Peated)
- Staoisha – Peated Bunnahabhain
- Williamson – Laphroaig
- Whitlaw – Highland Park
If you’re interested in owning an entire cask of whisky or buying one for your next bottling project, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
