Tech
Glenlivet uses blockchain technology to sell a 50-year-old whiskey collection
The whiskey has been maturing at the Speyside distillery since 1974, initially in bourbon casks and then in filler casks.
Twelve bottles will be released on the market blockchainmarketplace enabled, each priced at €40,000 (£34,000) plus VAT.
Each bottle represents one of the 12 essential elements underlying The Glenlivet: Air, Share Angel, Barley, Cooper, Copper, Distiller, Earth, Fire, Heritage, Time, Water and Wood.
Glenlivet used artificial intelligence to create unique labels for each of the 12 bottles in the collection, which goes on sale February 21.
The whiskey will be bottled this summer to celebrate the distillery’s 200th anniversary.
Kevin Balmforth, a cask expert at The Glenlivet, described it as “a liquid of remarkable depth and character”.
“As we commemorate 200 years of The Glenlivet, this ultra-rare collection represents a glimpse into the future and offers whiskey enthusiasts around the world a foray into the evolution of luxury investing,” he said.
The whiskey will be the inaugural release of a new marketplace created by The Whiskey Exchange, a London-based retailer with a significant online presence.
Anyone who makes a purchase through The Whiskey Exchange Cabinet will receive a transferable digital certificate, which provides irrefutable proof of ownership.
The aim is to provide greater traceability and security in the sale of rare single malt whiskies.
Owners will receive a digital certificate upon purchase, along with the opportunity to redeem 5cl samples of the rare 48, 49 and 50 year old whisky, as well as the full bottle upon release this summer.
In 2021 a 80 year old whiskey from The Glenlivet – auctioned for a record HK$1.5 million (£150,000).