For HNWs, collecting is often closely linked with investing. They might invest in art, property or even luxury handbags, all of which can accrue value over time. Collecting can also be done purely for pleasure, however, and many wealthy whisky enthusiasts are driven by their love for fine and rare spirits.
From Scottish whiskies and American bourbons to Japanese single malts and Indian barleys, today’s whisky market is notably international, with new markets around the world opening up – demand is growing in Asia in particular. Consumers are also increasingly exploring distilleries beyond the most established names, demonstrating a greater openness to variety and unique provenance.
A trusted whisky expert can draw upon their knowledge and network to aid the discovery of new names or regions, or track down the most desirable bottles from industry stalwarts. And for those viewing whisky as an investment – namely through cask ownership – reputable advisers can illuminate the risks, realities and opportunities of this unregulated market.
Related
Explore the other rankings within the 2026 Spear’s Lifestyle Indices:
- Best Art Advisers
- Best Aviation Advisers
- Best Yacht Advisers
- Best Collectibles Advisers
- Best Gallery, Auction House & Dealership Representatives
- Best Wine Advisers
The advisers in our 2026 Whisky Advisers Index help their clients to navigate the diverse and ever-evolving world of whisky, whether they are investing in casks to last for years to come or sourcing bottles to be consumed right away.
Trends in 2026
A rebound from the post-pandemic slump
The luxury whisky market peaked during the Covid-19 pandemic; however, there was subsequently a downturn in the prices prime bottles and casks achieved at sale. According to Knight Frank’s Luxury Investment Index, whisky prices fell by 10.9 per cent during 2025.
Content from our partners
However, the prime whisky market has shown signs of recovery, says Jonny Fowle, the global head of whisky at Sotheby’s. ‘It’s been a turbulent few years for whisky. We had huge price rises between about 2019 and 2022, and then we’ve seen a bit of a correction since then, but we have seen some green shoots of stabilisation and some more positive price increases recently, which is promising.’
[See also: Whisky as art: inside the world of bottles sold as collectible masterpieces]
Bespoke experiences
Many whisky afficionados are looking for more than just casks, says Simon Aron, founder of the whisky advisory firm Cask Trade. He highlights that clients often appreciate bespoke, engraved bottles and documents with tasting notes, which prolong their enjoyment of their purchase.
Credibility and transparency are also important, Aron says, particularly for (U)HNWs using trading platforms to buy and sell whisky casks.
‘When someone buys a cask from us, they know that we can store it, insure it, help them to sample it, and regularly check its health,’ he says.
Niche requests
While Scottish distilleries such as Glenfiddich, Macallan and Glenlivet continue to draw the attention of many whisky collectors, other malt enthusiasts are in search of rare and specific bottles for special occasions or personal interests, notes independent whisky adviser Blair Bowman.
‘Very rare and old bottles, especially those with historical significance, have been getting a lot of attention recently,’ he says.
Similarly, Fowle notes that casks from the year 1988 are especially popular with Chinese clients and customers from elsewhere in east Asia, who find the number eight lucky.
The Spear’s Whisky Advisers Index features advisers who have been selected for their expertise, track record, client service and standing within the profession, providing a trusted guide to the figures helping some of the world’s wealthiest whisky enthusiasts to expand their collections.
Click the links below to jump to a section of this article:
- Methodology
- The best whisky advisers: some names to know
- The best whisky advisers: the complete list
- Contact us
Methodology
Each year, the Spear’s Research Unit reassesses and refreshes its rankings of the leading providers in each sector by gathering data from and about the advisers and firms themselves, assessing submission forms, collating nominations, carrying out peer reviews, reviewing data from third-party sources, gathering references and recommendations, canvassing experts and conducting hundreds of interviews.
Advisers are evaluated using a proprietary scoring system that assigns different weightings to certain attributes. These scores feed directly into each new set of rankings in the Spear’s Indices. Each of these indices are published first online (according to the research calendar) and then in print. Print publication takes the form of the annual Spear’s 500 directory, which includes the top advisers in every index.
[See also: A guide to The Spear’s 500: Everything you need to know]
Each featured adviser is profiled on spears500.com. The site allows users to search the Spear’s database of more than 4,000 entities to find one (or more) to meet their specific requirements by filtering for specific attributes such as an adviser’s location, their specialist expertise and information about their client base.
The best whisky advisers: some names to know
Charles Beamish
- Focus: Private client rare whisky sales
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Beamish International
Charles Beamish is CEO of Beamish International, which he founded in 2018 to advise private clients on the acquisition, disposal and verification of rare whiskies.
The firm works directly with brand owners and producers, and offers dedicated portfolio management for single-malt collectors. Beamish is also able to put together tailor-made whisky travel experiences as well as provide more prosaic services, such as personalised storage, cask bottling project management and logistical solutions.
Beamish is dedicated to finding passionate new clients for direct-to-consumer sales. ‘My role is to source buyers, not investors,’ he says.
Read Charles Beamish’s full profile on Spears500.com
James Mackay
- Focus: Rare whisky valuation and curation
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: MEUM Private
James Mackay has developed a deep knowledge of the luxury spirits sector over the past 30 years. Most recently Mackay spent nearly a decade at Diageo, including as head of private client sales in Singapore, head of rare and exceptional spirits – where he helped to launch the Casks of Distinction programme – and global private client director.
He now serves as a rare whisky and spirits expert at MEUM Private. He also works as a private client and commercial director for the Artisanal Spirits Company, the parent company of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society.
Read James Mackay’s full profile on Spears500.com
Alexandra Richards
- Focus: Whisky insurance
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Howden
Alexandra Richards of Howden is one of the go-to advisers for whisky and collectibles insurance for HNWs and UHNWs in the UK. With over 20 years’ experience as a private client and fine art insurance broker across London and Edinburgh, Richards specialises in reviewing, analysing, brokering and creating insurance solutions for individuals as well as private and commercial clients – including galleries and public sector collections.
‘My clients’ insurance needs can often be complex, but I endeavour to deliver a customised, clear and competitive solution,’ she tells Spear’s.
Read Alexandra Richards’ full profile on Spears500.com
Jonny Fowle
- Focus: Whisky consultancy and brokerage
- Ranking: Top Recommended
- Firm: Sotheby’s
‘There’s no sort of formal training for what we do. I guess the impetus is on the enthusiast to go and learn on their own and develop the knowledge by themselves,’ says Jonny Fowle, vice president and global head of whisky at Sotheby’s.
Since joining the auction house in 2019, Fowle has played a central role in the growth of its spirits business. In 2021, he was promoted to director and head of a dedicated rare whisky and fine spirits team, and soon took on responsibility for auction centres across seven international cities.
Today, Fowle works closely with leading distilleries and collectors to bring some of the world’s rarest bottles to market. His clients include buyers at the very top end of the industry, and he notes a recent uptick in interest from American clients in particular.
Read Jonny Fowle’s full profile on Spears500.com
The best whisky advisers: the complete list
Contact us
- Click here to order a print copy of The Spear’s 500.
- To apply for inclusion in The Spear’s 500, complete our submission form.
- For further information about rankings and entries, please email research@spearswms.com; we aim to respond to all queries within two working days.
- For commercial enquiries and questions relating to enhanced profiles, please contact: sales@spearswms.com
- To keep up to date with the Spear’s 500, subscribe to our magazine, newsletter and follow Spear’s on Linkedin and Instagram.
- If you have missed calendar deadlines for our research cycles in 2026, you can still register your interest for updates about upcoming research and rankings.
With additional reporting by Christian Maddock
