Cask Solutions

Ethimex Cask Solutions is a specialist division of Ethimex, dedicated to sourcing, producing and supplying premium casks for the maturation and finishing of spirits. With a global network of trusted partners and decades of experience, we provide tailored cask solutions to distilleries, ageing houses and spirit brands worldwide, as well as craft breweries producing sour beer and oak cask-conditioned ales. 

New (Virgin) Oak Casks 

Ethimex Cask Solutions supplies the global beverage industry with virgin oak casks, spanning classic charred American oak through to TTB and SWR compliant Novel Oak series casks, including premium Japanese Mizunara and rare specialty options such as its Andean Oak and Chinkapin barrels. 

Quality Used (Ex-Fill) Casks 

Ethimex Cask Solutions supplies a wide variety of ex-fill Casks from around the world, delivered freshly-emptied to your facility. Ideal for the maturation or finishing of premium spirits, our portfolio includes classic staples such as ex-Bourbon, Sherry and Rum casks, as well as rare and exotic options such as ex-Vino Santo, Vermouth and Awamori.  

Spirit in Cask 

Ethimex Cask Solutions supplies blenders, bottlers and cask investment houses with ‘old and rare’ Scotch Whiskies in cask, as well as holding younger Scotch and maturing spirit in bond. We also offer a curated selection Bourbons, world Whiskies and fine Rums in barrel.  

Every ex-fill cask supplied by Ethimex Cask Solutions is: 

• shipped freshly disgorged to maintain optimal flavour impact.  

• rigorously inspected, retightened and pressure-tested for structural integrity. 

• nosed for organoleptic quality and to identify and eliminate sensory faults.  

From being in the spirits industry for over 25 years, Ethimex Cask Solutions has unparalleled access to used casks from leading distilleries and wineries worldwide, allowing a level of quality control for freshness and sensory attributes which is largely unavailable to general stockists and brokers.  

Ethimex Cask Solutions also produces proprietary 200L Andean Oak Casks, crafted from sustainably sourced Quercus humboldtii.  

Andean Oak refers to Quercus humboldtii, an oak species native to the high-altitude forests of the Colombian Andes. Sustainably harvested and processed exclusively by Ethimex for use in our proprietary cask range, it offers a distinctive alternative to traditional American and French oak. 

Endemic to the tropical high-Andean ecosystems at altitudes of between 1000m and 3500m above sea level, our Quercus humboldtii lumber is sustainably sourced by Ethimex under licence and in collaboration with local ecologists and forestry experts, ensuring responsible stewardship of biodiversity alongside exceptional cask quality. Only one tree per hectare is authorised for extraction, and all such specimens are deemed by the authorities to be within 10 years of likely natural death whose removal will encourage and support regeneration of the species.  

What makes Andean Oak unique is not only its origin but also its flavour contribution. From a maturation perspective, Andean Oak occupies a space entirely of its own. While American Oak is often associated with pronounced vanilla sweetness and French Oak with structured tannins and spice, Andean Oak delivers a more nuanced profile. It imparts a gentle phenolic character layered with subtle vanillin and warm spice, creating spirits that feel both complex and balanced. 

This unique flavour profile is matched by versatility. Ethimex Andean Oak casks can be tailored with a range of internal toasts and chars, allowing producers to fine-tune the interaction between wood and spirit. 

In short, Andean Oak offers spirts producers a rare opportunity. A sustainable, innovative cask solution that enables true differentiation, helping craft spirits with depth, individuality and a compelling story behind every drop.