Business

The Future of Whiskey Investment

Published

5 years ago

August 26, 2021

The value of rare whiskey has increased by 478%in the last ten years, according to Knight Frank’s Wealth Report 2021. This massively supersedes the value of traditional investment options: Classic cars increased in value by 193%, fine art by 71%, and wine by 127%.

Portfolio Manager, Casey Alexander, believes this is an important time for diversifying your portfolio and now, unlike before, it is easier to gain access to some of the rarest casks of single malt Scotch whisky.

While it is undeniable that markets are now volatile, I would still write the same article regarding whisky cask investments and how they compare to investing in whisky bottles and other physical assets even if this were not the case.

Although the act of buying whiskey casks privately is almost as old as the act of producing it, the opportunity for investors to participate in this market is a relatively new phenomenon. There are several causes for this, the most important of which are the increased availability of Single Malt Scotch in the 1980s, and the ongoing rise in popularity of whisky as a hobby since the beginning of the twenty-first century. Around this time, a small group of whisky collectors began to amass uncommon bottles, and this market has continued to grow to this day, as evidenced by the growing number of whisky auction sites and the frequency with which they sell.

Despite the scarcity of collectible bottles, it is a reasonably easy market to break into by visiting a specialist retailer, purchasing through an auction or from a private owner, or participating in one of the rare bottling ballots at a launch. Purchasing whiskey casks is a little more complex – and it is strongly recommended that you work with a reliable organisation in this field – but it can provide numerous benefits to investors seeking medium and long-term growth when compared to bottles and other alternative assets.

Let’s start with a bottle investment. Given the expanding global interest in single malt whisky, there are still plenty of smart investments to be made, and the industry’s development and profitability show no signs of slowing down, but a collection of rare bottles isn’t always the greatest option. Importantly, the liquid in a bottle does not age or mature, therefore a 12-year-old bottle of whisky will always be a 12-year-old bottle of whisky, and its value will only rise if the supply of that alcohol decreases, either due to discontinuation or a limited-edition bottling.

Many investors face financial and logistical difficulties, such as auction fees, shipping charges, and storage space requirements. Many investors just don’t have the time or space, either at home or at work, to dedicate a room to their bottle collection and manage the administration of tracking, packing, and shipping bottles, particularly when significant collections can have hundreds or thousands of bottles.

Whiskey casks are a much easier investment since the liquid is often acquired at a younger age and for a lower price compared to when the whiskey is matured. In certain situations, it is even purchased as a new make spirit. Whisky sells best at the ‘Milestone Ages’ of 12, 15, 18, 21, and 25 years old, so keep this in mind while deciding on an exit strategy for your investment.

Holding a 9-year-old barrel until it is 12 or 15 years old, for example, would be a shorter-term investment, with the whisky maturing in the cask and increasing in value throughout this time. We have yet to come across a distillery that sells their 18-year-old single malt for less than their 12-year-old single malt, and casks are no exception. The cask must be stored in a bonded warehouse in Scotland, which removes the need for the investor needing storage space for the cask.

Business

Click for Counsel: YesLawyer Wants to Make Lawyers as Accessible as Wi-Fi

Published

5 days ago

April 1, 2026

Matthew Wiles

Photo Courtesy of: YesLawyer

Byline: Andi Stark

For many people facing a legal problem, the most difficult part is not understanding their rights but finding a lawyer willing to speak with them in the first place. Long wait times, unclear pricing, and administrative hurdles often delay even the most basic consultations. YesLawyer, an AI-enabled plaintiff firm operating across all 50 states, is testing whether technology can shorten that gap.

Founded in 2024 by 25-year-old entrepreneur Rob Epstein, the platform offers free intake, automated screening, and, in many cases, same-day conversations with licensed attorneys. The idea is simple: reduce the friction between a client’s first request for help and an actual legal discussion. In this interview, Epstein explains how the system works, where artificial intelligence fits into the process, and what problems the company is trying to address in the broader legal system

Q: When you say you want lawyers to be “as accessible as Wi-Fi,” what does that mean in practical terms?

A: It’s a way of describing speed and availability. Someone dealing with a workplace dispute, a serious injury, or an immigration issue should be able to move from an online form or phone call to a real conversation with counsel in hours, not weeks. YesLawyer is structured so that a client begins with a free case evaluation, goes through automated conflict checks and basic screening, and, in many instances, speaks with a lawyer the same day.

Q: How does the process work once someone contacts the platform?

A: We use a structured workflow. It starts with a short questionnaire and an initial conversation to capture basic facts. That information feeds into conflict checks and internal review. The system then proposes a match with a licensed attorney and provides a calendar link for a virtual consultation, often within 24 hours. After the meeting, the client receives a written legal plan outlining next steps, deadlines, and estimated fees.

Q: Where does artificial intelligence fit into that process, and where does it stop?

A: AI is used for organizing and routing information, not for giving legal advice. It helps with conflict checks at scale, case categorization, and structured summaries so attorneys can focus on the substance of the matter. Every consultation is conducted by a licensed lawyer, and all decisions about strategy or next steps are made by humans.

Q: What problem is this model trying to solve in the current legal system?

A: Delay and cost are still major barriers. Many civil plaintiffs face long waits just to get a first appointment, along with high retainers and hourly billing that make early legal advice risky. We try to respond with faster consultations, flat-fee options, and financing. The idea is to remove administrative friction so lawyers spend less time on logistics and more time speaking with clients.

Q: Some critics say platforms like this blur the line between a technology company and a law firm. How do you describe YesLawyer?

A: We describe ourselves as a national, AI-enabled plaintiff firm that connects clients with independent attorneys. That structure does raise regulatory questions, especially around responsibility and oversight. We focus on licensing verification, attorney-written case plans, and clear communication about fees and services.

Q: You’ve said the main bottleneck is “systems” rather than people. What do you mean by that?

A: The issue isn’t that lawyers don’t want to help more people. It’s that the systems around them make it hard to scale their time. Intake, scheduling, and document handling take hours. Automating those parts means attorneys can handle more matters without being overwhelmed by repetitive tasks.

Q: Does this model risk favoring only the most profitable cases?

A: That’s a real concern in legal technology. Automation often works best for repeatable, high-volume disputes. Our view is that lowering administrative cost can actually make it easier to take on smaller or more complex cases that might otherwise be turned away. Whether that holds over time depends on the data.

Measuring Impact Over Time

YesLawyer’s attempt to compress the timeline between inquiry and consultation reflects broader changes in how legal services are being delivered. As artificial intelligence becomes more common in administrative work, firms are experimenting with new ways to reduce wait times and clarify costs.

The company’s early growth suggests that many clients value faster access to an initial conversation, even before considering long-term representation. Whether this platform-based model becomes widely adopted or remains one of several emerging approaches will depend on regulatory developments, lawyer participation, and measurable outcomes for clients. For now, YesLawyer’s experiment highlights a central question in modern legal practice: how quickly can help realistically be made available to the people who need it.