Whether whisky is being collected for sentimental reasons, or for resale at auction at a later date, there are often many factors overlooked in how to best keep a collection safe and protected.
A significant factor is the environment in which the collection is kept. While it’s common sense and widely acknowledged that keeping closed bottles in a window where the sun can affect is a terrible idea, it’s not as widely known why that’s the case. Degradation can occur as a result of direct sunlight, and it’s not just the bottles’ labels that can be damaged. The liquid itself can have its aromas and flavours diluted due to the heat, as well as the sun’s UV light bleaching the liquid’s colour. Even worse, particularly for resale, is the damage of the cork, which can begin to disintegrate and break off into tiny parts inside the liquid.
Equally important is insurance. The problem of keeping a whisky collection at home can be the risks involved should anything happen to the bottles, albeit theft or damage. It can also be difficult to prove the current worth of the bottles in comparison to when the purchase is first made, which can create real complications.
If a collection is being maintained for eventual resale at auction, it’s essential this is stored correctly, otherwise there’s a risk of being rejected at an auction, or it will significantly underperform because — and rightly so — no buying collector will spend money on something they can’t trust, particularly with damages on the outer casing, packaging, or very clear evidence of cork degradation inside.
Storing the whisky in a cool, dark environment is essential, as is maintaining that cool environment: 15-20°C is the optimal sweet spot. It’s understandable that at home, it can be difficult to find a room that can maintain that temperature. After all, as much as we’d all love to live in a whisky-only mansion, storing at home means competing with everyday household items. (Perhaps keeping that 30-years-plus single malt Scotch you’ve had since the 1970s sandwiched between two potted plants in the window is starting to sound like a terrible idea.)
So where is a good place to store your collectable whisky if there’s no safe space at home? A serious collector may look find a whisky storage company. These companies can work round the clock on ensuring the correct environmental conditions at all times, as well as ensuring that expensive whiskies are insured correctly.
One such company is London Whisky Vault. Based in London with an international network of clients, London Whisky Vault was co-founded by brothers Antony and Peter Charalambous off the back of their years’ worth of industry experience and identifying a potential opportunity to help collectors.
For Antony, it was his brother’s trips to Asia that inspired the idea of professional whisky storage company. “He noticed on his travels that a lot of collectors house their whisky incorrectly. They just buy it and store it under the cupboard. They like to show it off when friends come over. That’s fine if you’re looking for people to show things off to… but not really if you’re looking to sell on. What collectors need to understand… just like a classic car, you need to have a logbook. With professional storage you get that.”
London Whisky Vault offers collectors a secure, climate-controlled facility to store whisky, as well as providing expert advice on how best to protect and manage the collection in a safe way. The facility provides advanced security systems, 24/7 monitoring and restricted access. Collectors can view their whiskies by arranging an appointment.
The company also offers valuation for collectors, with the aim of providing insight for insurance, reselling, or investment, with appraisals reflecting market trends, rarity and demand.
Having been in the industry across many spectrums long enough, Antony knows what it’s like for buyers of whisky to be left frustrated when the collection they are wanting to buy hasn’t been properly cared for or looked after. “People will say to us, ‘I’ve got a collection, can we sell it?’ Sure. Where have you kept it? In a bonded warehouse? Has it been temperature controlled? Have you got the SIC number? They’ll just stare at you and say, ‘What’s that?’”
“Whisky worth collecting is whisky worth protecting” is the mantra that the London Whisky Vault lives by. Those whose whisky collection is a thing of great pride will agree.
For more information on London Whisky Vault, visit its website here.
