The company redefining whisky cask sales

There’s something refreshing about seeing industry veterans step into the cask ownership space with genuine credentials. MacLean & Bruce, the new venture from Vikki Bruce, Jamie Burke, and Charlie MacLean MBE, is positioning itself as the antidote to the rogues and charlatans that have been plaguing this corner of our industry.

What’s compelling here is the pedigree – these aren’t financial opportunists jumping on the whisky investment bandwagon. They’re people who’ve actually worked the warehouses, understand the liquid, and crucially, have those authentic distillery relationships that matter when you’re trying to source exceptional casks.

Their inventory sounds properly impressive – we’re talking casks stretching back to the 1950s alongside new make for those wanting to start their own maturation journey. That kind of range only comes from decades of relationship-building across Scotland’s distilleries.

The approach feels genuinely bespoke too. Rather than flogging whatever’s available, they’re matching enthusiasts with casks that actually suit their palate and goals. And they’re offering the full journey – from that initial distillery visit and sampling through to bottling and export. It’s the kind of hand-holding that serious whisky lovers deserve but rarely get in this space.

Vikki Bruce makes a crucial point about due diligence in what remains an unregulated market. Her advice to check everything against the SWA’s guidance for cask buyers is spot-on – there are far too many stories of people getting burned by companies selling casks that simply don’t exist.

Building from their 2013-established travel business gives them a solid foundation. Starting with distillery tours and evolving into independent bottlings before moving into cask sales shows organic growth rather than opportunistic expansion.

The Family of Bruce motto “Fuimus” – “we have been” – feels apt. In an industry where provenance and heritage matter enormously, having people who’ve genuinely been there and done it all makes a real difference.