Cask Trade was set up by Simon Aron in 2018, born from his own personal experiences buying casks. Back then, cask ownership was difficult to navigate with few reputable companies operating. His vision was to create a company which made buying and selling casks transparent, open and honest:
“We believe it is important to be open minded about changing trends in the cask whisky market. Our goal is to help our customers make informed and responsible decisions with the support of our expert team.”
Since then, Cask Trade has gone from strength to strength, building a worldwide client base, expanding their offices, growing a dedicated team, and offering one of the best stocklists on the market.
Here are just a few examples of some of Cask Trade’s biggest milestones since launch in 2018.
2018 Welcome to Regent Street
In the same year Cask Trade was founded, they opened the doors to their office, based on the prestigious Regent Street, London. Over the last five years, the office has expanded and grown with the team. Clients are offered the unique opportunity to come and meet their account manager and enjoy personalised tastings in the traditionally decorated tasting room, whether that is samples from the stocklist or tasting their own cask.
2020 Auction Your Cask
Cask Trade believe that selling is just as important as buying, which led to the launch of Auction Your Cask just two years after starting up.
Auction You Cask the world’s first dedicated online cask auction site, facilitating clients and external contacts to either submit a cask to sell or bid on other casks. With 0% seller fees and an agreed reserve, Auction Your Cask puts cask owners in control of their cask sale to ensure fair sale expectations are met.
Since 2020, Cask Trade has grown a community of over 2,500 cask whisky enthusiasts who have taken part in the 12 auctions we’ve hosted since 2020. Over 300 casks have gone under the hammer selling £785,000 worth of casks across Scotch whisky, Irish Whisky and rum.
2021 Introducing Regent Street Cask Bottlers
In 2021, Cask Trade introduced a further service to help clients overcome the operational, legal and logistical challenges of bottling their casks - Regent Street Cask Bottlers. Born from the realisation that bottling casks can be time intensive and hard work, Cask Trade wanted to offer both trade and private customers a convenient way to enjoy the end product.
Whether this is for the goal of retailing the bottles as an independent bottler, to enjoy their very own bottled whisky for a special occasion, celebrate a family or company milestone, or just to enjoy as a keepsake, all the hard work is handled by the internal team. With a fully flexible range of options, Regent Street Cask Bottlers can help to personalise labels or even apply client’s own artwork to the bottles.
2021 Setting Up In Hong Kong
2021 marked Cask Trade’s global expansion to Hong Kong. Since launch in 2018, the business saw a 25% increase in existing business in Asia, making a strong case to open a permanent office. Managing Director of Cask Trade, Simon Aron, commented:
“By opening in Hong Kong, we are addressing a demand from existing and potential customers throughout Asia. We're offering direct access to casks for whatever purpose, at competitive UK prices with complete transparency and a seamless service. Our company is all about an authentic marketplace for buying and selling casks of whisky and we want to supply all bottlers, investors and of course, whisky lovers! I think the Asian market will be both surprised and delighted with our competitive prices.”
Based in the Admiralty District of Hong Kong the office is headed up by self-confessed whisky geek, John Wong:
“Drinkers from Greater China and Asia-Pacific are always seeking a diverse range of taste and flavour profiles in whisky. They look for rarity and investment opportunities with stories behind the liquid. With me on the ground in Hong Kong, I can immerse myself into the whisky community. There is nothing better than meeting face to face with a dram in your hand.” Said Wong, who explained that the demand wasn't just coming from Hong Kong.
“The East Asian market is unique. Our highly skilled and educated customers like to discuss whisky and learn from each other. It’s so much more than just buying and selling. We are embarking on a journey together.”
2023 Sunday Times Top 100 Fastest Growing Businesses
In their fifth year, Cask Trade’s hard work and dedication to the industry hadn’t gone unnoticed. The company were delighted to be ranked 21st in the annual Top 100 Fastest-Growing Companies report published by the Sunday Times, in partnership with research partner Beauhurst and in association with Barclays. The report celebrates Britain’s most entrepreneurial companies exhibiting the highest levels of absolute growth and compound annual growth rate over the past 4 years.
Commenting on the achievement, Simon Aron, founder and CEO of Cask Trade, said:
“I feel truly honoured to be included in The Sunday Times Hundred list. We are proud to be hard-working advocates for this industry all over the world. Cask Trade’s amazing achievements over the past few years are a testament to my co-directors and our expert and dedicated team which has led to us being recognised alongside this incredible list of UK businesses.”
2023 Beyond The Cask
After years of accumulating knowledge, building an expert team, and observing trends in the Whisky Market, Cask Trade released their first edition of Beyond The Cask – an annual insight into the world of cask trading through the lens of experts in the industry. Adhering to their commitment to education and transparency, the team created a comprehensive insight into the world of cask ownership. The detail and consideration in Beyond The Cask reflects Cask Trade’s approach to their client relationships, helping prospective cask owners understand and consider the full picture of cask whisky investment.
The publication of the first edition has been a popular release, meaning plans for the second edition in 2024 already in action.
A Strong Start to 2024
Startups 100
Their growth and success has also been credited early in 2024. In January, they were ranked 24th in the 2024 Startups 100 Index. This prestigious index identifies the top 100 startups with most growth potential, and has previously awarded placings to household names, including Monzo, Deliveroo and HelloFresh.
Startups 100 showcases businesses who demonstrate innovation, solid financials, opportunity in their market, a great concept, and a strong customer base or following.
FT1000
Building on this success, in March 2024 Cask Trade received the exciting news that they had been ranked in the Financial Times top 1000 fastest-growing companies in Europe. Ranking Europe’s most promising companies exhibiting the highest levels of absolute growth and compound annual growth, the FT1000 report is published by the Financial Times in partnership with research company Statista.
As well as ranking within the top 15% of all companies in Europe, Cask Trade comes in as the 4th highest overall in the Food and Beverage sector and is ranked 29th highest of the UK businesses.
Looking Ahead
These achievements over the last five years and beyond are testament to the knowledge and hard work of the team behind Cask Trade. Being one of the first companies of its kind to make casks available to individuals, Simon successfully identified a gap in the alternative investment market and committed to building a culture of education and transparency in the relationships Cask Trade hold with their customers.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2024, Cask Trade will be reflecting on their 5th year in business and celebrating the landmark with a series of celebratory events, fundraisers and other activities. Stay tuned on social media and our regular emails for further information.
