The EmpireState of Mind.
Welcome to Cask Empire, your premier destination for buying and selling whisky casks on the open market. Founded by our seasoned industry expert Mark Scanlan with over five years of experience across two leading companies in the cask trade, our CEO brings extensive knowledge of Scotch, Japanese, and Irish whisky.
Our mission is to create a seamless, one-stop platform where cask owners—whether private collectors, bulk owners, wholesalers, or suppliers—can effortlessly connect with buyers. As the secondary market for whisky casks continues to grow, Cask Empire is dedicated to maximizing your cask's visibility to ensure you achieve an efficient realized resale.
Not just a marketplace — a
valuation-controlled platform
for real whisky cask liquidity.
Designed for private cask
holders who value transparency,
discipline, and credible exits.
Mark Scanlan
Founder,
Cask Empire
The private whisky cask market has grown substantially over the past five to six years. Where there were only a handful of private cask owners a decade ago, Cask Empire estimates there are now in excess of 100,000 private cask owners globally. Many of these owners will never elect to bottle their cask. Instead, they seek to trade on the secondary cask market — a market that truly came to life maturity of stock, and growing investor demand.
Cask Empire has built a two-way marketplace that connects buyers and sellers directly, removing the need for a broker in most circumstances. Once a transaction is completed, our team liaises with the seller and the bonded warehouse to obtain the required documentation and formally transfer ownership.
The buyer is then provided with their own direct warehouse account, arranged by Cask Empire, ensuring the cask has no ongoing ties to any broker or intermediary. Ownership is clear, transparent, and fully independent.
Here’s to a more open, efficient, and trusted future for whisky cask trading. Let’s raise a dram to what’s next.