Background
Investing in new fill (whisky straight from the still into cask) has historically proven sound.
A bottle of 5-year-old whisky sells for more than a 3-year-old, and a 10-year-old more than a 5, meaning value growth is built into the industry.
Under current legislation, profits from cask sales are not subject to UK Capital Gains Tax, as Scotch whisky is classed as a wasting asset (i.e. one with a life under 50 years).
In recent years, many whisky investment companies have appeared, often promising high annual returns. A quick look at Companies House or LinkedIn shows many were set up in the last 2–3 years, with directors lacking deep industry experience. The sales approach often resembles tactics seen in crypto, forex, or old time-share schemes.
That said, the reason they exist is because whisky can deliver strong long-term returns. But buying through short-lived companies offering overpriced casks, high fees, and unclear exit plans is more likely to end in confusion or disappointment.
Who We Are
The company has been founded by long-standing whisky professionals with experience at some of the industry’s most respected names.
Over the years, we’ve earned the trust of major distillers and built global brands, laying down casks and investing in mature stock to secure quality whisky for their own use.
This patient, long-term approach has allowed us to build a valuable maturing portfolio and trade whisky - and rum - on our own behalf. A quick search on Companies House shows the directors have well-established, profitable businesses. Any investment made through The Ditari Lente Whisky Company is treated with the same care as our own.
The Directors
Eamonn Jones
Has over 30 years of senior international sales experience, having worked with Drambuie (now part of William Grant), Ian Macleod Distillers, and Whyte & Mackay, all of whom we continue to work with today. Founded Fox Fitzgerald Ltd in 2010, followed by Fox Fitzgerald Whisky Trading Company in 2013 (with long-term colleague Aidan Smith) and Fox Fitzgerald Brands Ltd in 2019. He’s also an investor in pioneering distilleries like Waterford (Ireland) and Renegade Rum (Grenada), and has built a global portfolio of whisky and rum brands.
Aidan Smith
After 30+ years in international sales with HP Bulmer, Halewood Artisanal Distillers, and Whyte & Mackay, Aidan joined long-time colleague Eamonn Jones to establish Fox Fitzgerald Whisky Trading Company in 2013. The company has grown steadily, now owning significant whisky assets and trading cask, bulk, and bottled whisky with clients around the world.
The Opportunity
As detailed in the appendix, whisky has a proven track record of delivering excellent double-digit annual growth. However, these returns can be significantly reduced if:
1.
The initial purchase price is too high, a common issue when margins are added by multiple vendors as a cask changes hands.
2.
Warehouse costs and management fees are inflated, meaning the vendor’s profit is front-loaded, made at the start, regardless of how the investment performs.
3.
There’s a lack of clarity over who actually owns the cask. True ownership is confirmed by a Delivery Note from the distillery detailing the cask(s) purchased, yet many investors never receive one and can’t trace their asset.
4.
While various exit strategies are often offered, none have yet proven to be consistently successful.
The Ditari Lente Whisky Company is different. We offer the following:
1.
Full transparency. You pay what we pay for the whisky, thanks to years of successful trading and trusted relationships with major distillers. You receive a copy of the Delivery Order showing exactly what was purchased and where it’s stored.
2.
Fair, direct costs. You pay the actual warehousing fees charged by the distiller. You can check your casks for evaporation losses (“the angels’ share”) at your own expense, any time. The Ditari Lente Whisky Company is fully HMRC verified, with all licences in place. We are the legal owner of the casks, giving distillers confidence the stock is held by a trusted partner, but transparency remains key.
3.
A simple handling fee. We charge a 7.5% fee on top of your initial investment, far lower than other whisky schemes, because we buy direct from reputable partners. This covers certification and ongoing management with the distilleries and their warehouses.
4.
The key USP of investing with The Ditari Lente Whisky Company is that we only make money when you do, on the day you sell your casks. We charge a 25% gross margin on the profit you make upon exit. Over a 5–10 year period, it is entirely feasible that you could achieve annual returns of 10–20%.
FAQ
Can the value of your investment go down?
Of course - demand for whisky can shift toward other spirits or non-alcohol alternatives. But history shows that when demand slows, major distillers (Diageo, Pernod Ricard, William Grant, Beam Suntory) simply produce less. This often leads to a spike in the value of mature whisky once the market recovers.
Does The Ditari Lente Whisky Company guarantee that I will make a significant profit? Any profit?
Plenty of companies do - usually the ones with the highest fees and far less industry experience. We don’t. Our USP is full transparency: you benefit from our years of trading on our own behalf, low management costs, and a clear margin split on any upside.
Do we think you’ll make a profit? Yes, absolutely, history and experience suggest you will, and we’ll do everything we can to help make that happen. But there are no guarantees, other than the obvious one: we only make significant returns if you do.
