Mark Gillespie’s Post

Did you hear about the record-breaking sale of the most expensive cask of whisky in 2019? The Macallan 30-year-old sherry hogshead fetched a whopping HK$4.46M! 🥃🤯 And with the whisky market valued at $61.78 billion in 2021, it's no surprise that it's expected to reach $95.9 billion by 2026. Cheers to the booming industry! 🌐📈 #Whisky #MarketGrowth #WhiskyIndustry #WhiskyCollectors https://ow.ly/5QJy50RhO0e

Over the weekend, I was thrilled to participate in a recent roundtable discussion during CAMRA NI’s long-awaited beer and cider festival. After a five-year delay due to a myriad of issues, including licensing, this event highlighted the complexities and impact of Northern Ireland's liquor licensing laws. Alongside William Manye of Bullhouse, CAMRA representatives, and a handful of Northern Irish brewers, I shared my research with Northern Irish MLAs and MPs on how these regulations create market barriers for new businesses, particularly craft breweries. Our discussion examined the regulatory framework’s impact on market competition and consumer choice, highlighting the need for reform to foster a fairer, more inclusive market. It was an invaluable dialogue on economic impact, market access, and the intersection of policy and economic growth. I am grateful for this platform to advocate for innovation and change within the sector! #LiquorLicensing #RegulatoryReform #MarketAccess #InclusiveMarkets #EconomicGrowth #PolicyChange #LegalInnovation #IndependentBeer #NorthernIreland #CAMRA #ConsumerChoice

Why invest in whiskey barrels? Because it’s the only way to truly age and enhance this fine spirit, making it a unique and valuable asset. 🌟🥃 Skip the bottles and distilleries and invest at the heart of the whiskey industry. Learn more on our Youtube Channel! #WhiskeyCask #BarrelAging #InvestmentTips #RealEstate #PassiveInvesting

Did you know that the #brewing sector generates over €40 billion in government revenues? 🍺 The hospitality sector, where our creative #brews are enjoyed in bars, restaurants and events, generates around €12.5 billion from VAT on beer sold in on-trade establishments. Employment taxes linked to the European beer sector contribute an additional €11 billion, including income taxes from bar staff. ⬆️ We’re also seeing a rise in small breweries. Thanks to an EU Directive, member states can reduce excise duty rates for independent brewers. This enhances competitiveness and also boosts consumer interest in locally produced, artisanal beers. Want to know more about how beer contributes to government revenues? Check our latest report. 👉 https://loom.ly/guivmBo

Whisky of the Month: Miltonduff Miltonduff is one of the oldest distilleries that few have heard of. For those fortunate enough to have tasted Miltonduff's superb malt, its scarcity is well-known. The primary reason for this rarity is the high demand from global blends, particularly Ballantine's, which relies heavily on Miltonduff, alongside Glenburgie. Why Miltonduff is a Savvy Investment - Adding Miltonduff to your collection is a wise move for several reasons: its primary use in Ballantine's means it's rarely available as a single malt. Independent bottlers covet it, ensuring strong resale potential. Finally, the malt is excellent, making it slightly underpriced. Remember, while single malts have enjoyed tremendous growth and interest this century, blends remain the primary revenue driver for whisky companies. In short, Miltonduff is a must-buy. If any casks become available, don't hesitate. 📷️: Secret Speyside, Miltonduff 24-Year-Old Single Malt #Whisky1901 #CaskInvestment #WhiskyInvestment #whisky #whiskylover #whiskygram #instawhisky #whiskylife #scotland #whiskytasting #dram #instadram #Miltonduff

It feels almost like every other day, news comes in of another great Australian independent brewer closing down. While certain economic factors are at play, there are calls for the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to reexamine the lack of competition within the industry. Read the full article below to learn more about increased calls from independent brewers and federal government members to investigate the “enormous market power” of Australia’s two largest beer producers and how their duopoly is worse for independent brewers, consumers and beer prices. https://bit.ly/3VNPPjT

Exciting progress in New York's beverage alcohol industry! The recent legislative changes create a more equitable landscape for producers, setting a promising precedent for other states. Remember, meaningful industry reform happens at the legislative level. Texas may be next, with Senate Bill 246 currently under consideration. This proposed legislation aims to level the playing field for beverage alcohol producers, much like New York's initiative. If you're interested in supporting Texas Senate Bill 246 and would like guidance on contacting your state legislators, feel free to send me a direct message. #BeverageIndustry #Legislation #AlcoholPolicy #Texas #NewYork

While doing some research for a possible new book, I found myself drawn to historic Irish whiskey export figures. Anyone interested in Irish whiskey will know that its growth in recent years has been nothing short of incredible. But it's only when you look at the data that you really get a full appreciation. Irish whiskey sales to the US provide the best example of this. In 1952 only 28,942 proof gallons of Irish whiskey were imported into the US ** (Source: Liquor Handbook). Using a conversion provided by the American Craft Spirits Association we can convert this into an equivalent case figure (12 × 750ml bottles). This gives a total of just 12,220 cases. By 1982 just over 200,000 cases of Irish whiskey were exported to the US. Fast forward 40 years and we see that in 2022 Irish whiskey sales to the US amounted to 5,848,300 cases (Source: ISWR). This means that over a period of 70 years the category grew its exports to the US by 47,858%!! That is quite something. ** This figure is for Republic of Ireland only #irishwhiskey #irishwhisky #whiskey

Local brewers are shutting up shop. What will come of that local pint of craft ale? What is Britain but a nation of beer drinkers? And sure – we like a Stella or a San Miguel as much as any old European nation, but there will always be a special place in our hearts for that pint of local ale down the boozer. Or… will there? A “perfect storm” of high taxes, narrow routes to market and bulky energy bills has led to a crisis in British brewing. The proportion of UK breweries which entered insolvency in 2023 grew by a staggering 82 per cent in 2023, rising from 38 in 2022 to 69 by the end of December. Continue reading 👇 https://bit.ly/4eUQFDE

At Whiskey House of Kentucky, our complete and total focus is on our customers. We aren’t distracted by building our own brands or running a public hospitality program. Whether real or perceived, a conflict of interest exists when a contract manufacturer owns its own brands. How do we know? Because we created and ran a facility that struggled with that challenge on a regular basis. This time around, we’re doing it differently. We’ve removed all friction points between us and our customers. With no brands of our own and a campus closed to the public, Whiskey House is hyper-focused on providing the highest quality custom whiskey production, innovative liquid design, exceptional customer service, and the most competitive pricing for our exclusive branded customers. The manufacturing design, capabilities, and technological infrastructure of Whiskey House is unlike anything in the American Whiskey industry. Creating a customer centric culture isn’t easy. It starts by developing the core principles of the business. It takes time, focus, and dedication. Many start-up businesses lose sight of this in an effort to simply get up and running. Luckily, we aren’t just any start-up. We know just how important it is to focus on building culture from inception. At the end of the day, a distillery is nothing more than metal and fancy equipment; it’s the people who produce great whiskey and service for our partners. That’s why, as a team, we wrote our Mission, Vision, and Values together. These principles form the core of who we are and how we operate. It’s our pleasure to share them with you: Mission Through innovation and collaboration, we create exceptional customized American whiskey that builds sustained brand recognition for our exclusive partners. Vision Recognized as the global leader in transforming the contract American whiskey industry. Values Integrity: We consistently do what’s right, even when it’s not easy. Communication: We listen and share honestly and transparently so all are informed and valued. Partner Focus: We understand the needs of our partners and ensure everything we do adds value. Innovation: We embrace curiosity and creative risk taking to continuously deliver advanced solutions. Learn more about us at: https://whiskeyhouse.com