Glenlivet uses blockchain to launch 50YO whiskies

Chivas Brothers-owned The Glenlivet will release a collection of 50-year-old whiskies exclusively on new blockchain-enabled marketplace The Whisky Exchange Cabinet.

The collection, titled The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements, will be the first launch on the new digital marketplace, set up by whisky retailer The Whisky Exchange to facilitate secure and traceable collecting of rare spirits. The collection includes 12 one-off bottles that have been maturing since 1974, aged in two 'meticulously selected' casks. The name Twelve Elements is taken from the 12 elements needed to craft Glenlivet single malt; air, the angel's share, barley, coopers, copper, distillers, earth, fire, time, water and wood. Kevin Balmforth, cask expert at The Glenlivet, said: “This luxurious whisky showcases the art of balance, where nature and human elements combine to create a liquid of remarkable depth and character. “This truly exceptional rare expression is a testament to the unique combination of the two hand-selected single malt casks, aged and crafted by a long line of makers presiding over the casks for half a century. “As we commemorate 200 years of The Glenlivet, this ultra-rare collection represents a look to the future and offers whisky enthusiasts worldwide a foray into the evolution of luxury investments.” The two casks used for the whisky were a first-fill Bourbon barrel, said to give the profile a caramel sweetness and honeycomb notes, and refill hogsheads, which The Glenlivet said imparted ‘richer toasted oak and ginger spice undertones’. The whiskies will be bottled in the summer to celebrate the Speyside distillery’s bicentenary this year, and will be available to purchase from The Whisky Exchange Cabinet on 21 February for €40,000 (US$43,062) each. Buyers will be given transferable digital certificates upon purchase to provide proof of ownership, as well as the opportunity to redeem 50ml samples of the liquid at 48, 49 and 50 years old. As The Glenlivet turns 200 this year, it has already released a fusion cask whisky and a limited edition 12-year-old single malt to mark the milestone. Its move into the digital world follows other recent developments with spirits and blockchain technology, such as Crurated expanding its offering to rare spirits – as interest in alcohol and online trading platforms grows.