The 1901 Group
Whisky cask broker (The 1901 Group Ltd, founded c.2019) led by Aaron Damiano Sparkes, covering cask acquisition, management and realisation.
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- Minimum investment
- From about £5,000
- Scale
- £35m+ under management
- Launched
- 2019
- Geography
- UK & International
- Secondary market
- Yes, between investors
- Investment type
- Physical Asset
The 1901 Group in ten seconds
Structured fields recorded the same way for every platform in the directory, so they can be compared like for like.
- Asset classes
- Luxury Assets
- Investment type
- Physical Asset
- Not FCA regulated · Unregulated (HMRC-bonded)
- Operator
- The 1901 Group Limited · Co. no. 12040083
- Company status
- Active
- From about £5,000
- Scale
- £35m+ under managementCompany-reported · Sep 2026
- Launched
- 2019
- Company incorporated
- Jun 2019
- Geography
- UK & International
- UK investors
- Open to retail investorsOur assessment from published information · Sep 2026
- Yes, between investors
- Operating status
- Active
- Facts checked
- Sep 2026
- Text reviewed
- October 2026
- Website
- the1901group.com
What is The 1901 Group?
The 1901 Group is a whisky cask investment firm, led by Aaron Damiano Sparkes. The company was incorporated in 2019 (Companies House 12040083) and markets to UK and international clients. The 1901 Group says it manages more than £35m (its website, September 2026). Not authorised by the FCA — cask whisky is unregulated; no FSCS or FOS protection.
Brand note: the cask investment business formerly traded as Whisky 1901 and rebranded to The 1901 Group. Whisky 1901 continues as the group's independent bottling brand and is not involved in cask investment.
How does The 1901 Group work?
The firm sells Scotch whisky casks with legal title transferred via a consumer goods agreement. Investors receive a digital portal to track cask details, valuation estimates and maturation progress. Casks are stored in HMRC-bonded warehouses. Exits include direct sale, auction or bottling services.
What does The 1901 Group offer?
Direct cask ownership from about £5,000, according to its FAQ. The firm applies a discretionary markup on cask sales; storage and insurance are covered for the first two years, then charged at £150 + VAT per cask per year. Exit fees apply per the platform terms.
Who is The 1901 Group for?
Investors who understand and accept the speculative, unregulated nature of cask whisky and who have conducted thorough independent due diligence on title, custody and exit routes. Capital is at risk.
Sources and methodology
- Text reviewed
- October 2026
- Sources
- the1901group.com (FAQs, fees, ownership); Companies House (The 1901 Group Ltd); FCA consumer warnings on cask whisky
- Methodology
- How we research platforms →
Editorial research, not financial advice. See the full disclaimer in the site footer. Are you the owner of The 1901 Group or representing the company? To submit an addition, clarification or correction, get in touch or use our contact form.
The 1901 Group vs other Luxury Assets platforms
| The 1901 Group | Jura Capital | Masterworks | Vin-X | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum | From about £5,000 | Not disclosed | $15,000 per offering | £10,000 (recommended portfolio value) |
| FCA status | Not FCA regulated | Not FCA regulated | Not FCA regulated | Not FCA regulated |
| Structure | Physical Asset | Equity | Equity | Physical Asset |
| Secondary market | Yes, between investors | No | Yes, between investors | Platform buy-back only |
| Launched | 2019 | — | 2017 | 2010 |
| Geography | UK & International | UK, International | Global (US-domiciled) | UK & International |
- What is the minimum investment on The 1901 Group?
- Investments on The 1901 Group start from about £5,000.
- Is The 1901 Group regulated by the FCA?
- No, The 1901 Group is not FCA-regulated.
- Does The 1901 Group offer a secondary market?
- Yes. The 1901 Group lets investors list holdings for sale to other investors before they mature. A sale depends on another investor wanting to buy, so it isn't guaranteed, and the price can be below what you paid.