Still In Cask, a blockchain-powered platform created by Liam Hirt, has reported a 30% increase in users year on year, highlighting growing interest in fractional whisky ownership, by the bottle and not by the cask. For decades, buying a whisky cask was an exclusive pursuit, often costing thousands – or even tens of thousands – of pounds. That placed ownership firmly in the hands of affluent collectors, leaving everyday whisky lovers on the side-lines.
Liam Hirt says, “When we launched Still In Cask in 2021, the goal was simple: make cask ownership accessible to the people who actually love whisky.” Liam Hirt is also the Founder of Psychopomp Microdistillery and Circumstance Distillery in Bristol.
The platform allows distilleries to sell bottle-sized shares of maturing whisky, with each share representing a 700ml bottle once the cask is ready. Shareholders can redeem their bottles upon bottling, offering a taste of ownership without the five-figure price tag.
The approach is resonating. The platform has sold more than 4,400 cask shares across 54 casks, with organic user growth continuing at 30% annually. Most investors buy only one or two shares, motivated by passion rather than profit. This creates a new dynamic for distilleries to experiment with unique casks and maturation techniques.
Hirt explained that the idea arose from a practical challenge at Circumstance Distillery in Bristol. Whisky must mature for at least three years before it can be sold, creating a financial gap for new distilleries. Selling fractional shares provides a solution that funds operations while keeping whisky accessible to enthusiasts.
For many users, the appeal is deeply personal. Instead of buying an entire cask, fans can buy a single share and watch their whisky mature over years. Some keep journals of the journey, building anticipation for the moment they finally taste their bottle. Transparency is another key feature. Traditional cask ownership can be opaque, with paper records vulnerable to mistakes or fraud. Still In Cask uses a public blockchain ledger, so every share is independently verifiable and tracked, giving enthusiasts confidence in their investment.
Hirt continues, “Whisky casks shouldn’t be mysterious assets reserved for wealthy collectors. They’re part of the whisky-making process, and the people who care most about that process are often the drinkers themselves.”
By lowering barriers and creating a personal connection to the spirit-making process, fractional cask ownership is turning a previously exclusive market into a shared experience. Popular moments to invest in shares include Retirement: timing the gift to coincide with a particular date, as well as 21st birthdays and wedding anniversaries.
For more information, visit stillincask.com.
(Main image – Liam Hirt).
