About The Auction

A venerable grain, barley was likely one of the first to be domesticated by early agricultural humans. Though wheat has now knocked barley off the top spot of humanity’s favourite grasses, the cereal still holds strong in Scotland. Since its likely introduction in the 8th century ‘bere’ has adapted to the idiosyncrasies of the Scottish climate and provided generations of Scots with bread, fodder, thatch and alcoholic beverages. Bere has since been superseded by modern varieties, but barley is still the most important crop here.

Great and rolling fields of gold are a powerful image for Scotch Whisky, and every drop of Single Malt can only ever originate from the juice of barley. Our distillers need a lot of it. Where Scotland is steep and mountainous, even this tough grass has trouble clinging on, but there are sheltered parts of the country where clean water and fertile soils abound – and it is here that barley thrives, granting these Fertile Heartlands an abundant golden carpet.

Scottish distilleries have often gravitated towards these regions where barley prevails, and have through their proximity secured supplies of excellent malt, or even been able to tailor the local farming to their needs. In some cases, the presence of a distillery has attracted barley farming to new areas. In our highly anticipated second online auction, we at Cask 88 are offering casks from distilleries who have situated themselves in these areas, navigating a golden path to greatness.

Expect to find Speyside distilleries aplenty – the local conditions for barley growing have been instrumental in growing the region’s whisky production to almost half of Scotland’s output. But there are other places where barley flourishes, too…

Bruichladdich 2001
Auction Status
Ended
Age
17 years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
61.00%
Estimated Bottles
238
Cask Type
Rum Barrel
Region
Islay
Glenrothes 2009
Auction Status
Ended
Age
10 years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
67.00%
Estimated Bottles
303
Cask Type
Bourbon Hogshead
Region
Speyside
Arran 2017 - Peated
Auction Status
Ended
Age
1 year
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
61.00%
Estimated Bottles
277
Cask Type
Bourbon Barrel
Region
Islands
Arran 2017
Auction Status
Ended
Age
2 years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
61.70%
Estimated Bottles
284
Cask Type
Bourbon Barrel
Region
Islands
Bunnahabhain 2005
Auction Status
Ended
Age
13 years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
56.30%
Estimated Bottles
314
Cask Type
Refill Hogshead
Region
Islay
Orkney Island 2011
Auction Status
Ended
Age
8 years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
65.70%
Estimated Bottles
339
Cask Type
Refill Hogshead
Region
Islands
Craigellachie 2012
Auction Status
Ended
Age
7 years
Alcohol By Volume (ABV)
57.90%
Estimated Bottles
151
Cask Type
Bourbon Barrel
Region
Speyside
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