A “SCAM” Scotch whisky business has been shut down by the UK Government.
Cask Spirits Global Limited sold investments in whisky casks, but was found not to have given consumers certificates for casks that did not exist, referred to warehouses with no relationship to the company at all, or kept ownership of casks in the company’s name despite “selling” them.
The Insolvency Service – a government agency that investigates complaints about financial wrongdoing – said that 17 customers of Cask Spirits Global had paid almost £100,000, and only four had been given valid ownership documentation.
“True losses may be even higher as the company failed to provide 27 of the 29 requested accounting documents”, the agency said.
Cask Spirits Global Limited was wound up at the High Court in London on Tuesday, August 25.
Mark George, chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “Our investigations identified serious concerns about the way Cask Spirits Global Limited was run and the harm caused to customers who invested in good faith.
“People handed over thousands of pounds for whisky casks they never legally owned.
“Despite claiming to have stopped trading, the company appeared to still be active and posed an ongoing risk to the public. We will not hesitate to act where a company cannot be trusted with people’s money.”
Cask Spirits Global Limited was incorporated in June 2024. The company operated under the name “Cask Spirits Ltd” on its website and customer-facing materials, despite no such company existing at Companies House.
Customers actually paid Cask Spirits Global Limited, but their title documents made no reference to the real company.
Cask Spirits Global Limited listed two London addresses in its materials but investigators found it had no verified presence at either.
The company also operated multiple undisclosed bank accounts and failed to file its statutory accounts consistently.
Cask Spirits Global Limited ceased contact with customers around March 2025 and despite claiming to have stopped trading at that point, it attempted to open a new account with a bonded warehouse the following month.
The Official Receiver has been appointed liquidator of Cask Spirits Global Limited.
