Benriach is the latest distillery to delve into the world of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) by releasing ten 40-year-old whisky twinsets on the BlockBar marketplace. Simon Wittenberg finds out more.
Following in the footsteps of other whisky brands, such as Royal Salute, Benriach – the distillery in north Speyside, is merging physical with virtual by releasing just ten 40-year-old whisky twinsets on to the BlockBar.com NFT marketplace for luxury wines and spirits.
Two incredibly limited expressions make up the luxury twinsets, which are namely, Benriach The Forty and Benriach The Forty Octave Cask Matured. The only time they will be made available as an ensemble anywhere in the world, the $8,000 twinsets will drop on to the platform as NFTs from 10:00 Eastern Time (15:00 UK time) on Tuesday 11th October, with access being made available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Existing BlockBar NFT owners will receive priority admission 24 hours prior to the public release.
To create Benriach The Forty (43.5% ABV), bourbon casks have gradually developed exquisite notes of honeyed pomelo and lush orchard fruits into one of the oldest ever peated whiskies released from Speyside.
Over the decades of maturation, the smoky character of peated Benriach spirit has been refined, transforming into ripe fruit sweetness. This intricate character is interwoven with dark notes of chocolate, rich plum and smooth walnut from Port casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal, resulting in a bronze hue.
Boasting a deep red mahogany colour, The Forty Octave Cask Matured (51.5% ABV) is the finest example of Benriach nurtured with creative consideration. The liquid was ingeniously laid down in small octave casks, which are an eighth of the size of a regular cask. These barrels were crafted from the staves of American oak bourbon casks, rich with indulgent orchard and dark fruits and an immaculate silken oak finish.
Those fortunate enough to acquire a twinset, which features bespoke packaging, will not only have a digital NFT providing the right to ownership, but they will also be in receipt of a certificate of authenticity from BlockBar, and an invitation to an exclusive event at the Benriach distillery, where the lucky individuals will have the opportunity to meet the creative team of whisky makers, and explore the world of flavour that the brand is so renowned for.
The physical twinsets will be stored with BlockBar until the owner is ready to redeem from spring 2023.
Benriach The Forty and The Forty Octave Cask Matured whisky twinsets – Where and How?
For more information on theupcoming drop on BlockBar, visit www.benriachdistillery.com and www.BlockBar.com.
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