THE WHISKY BARREL PIONEER NEW AUTHENTICATION PROCESS FOR SCOTCH WHISKY INDUSTRY

Fife-based Scotch whisky retailer and bottling company release world’s first single-cask Scotch whisky with full Digital Provenance Certificate (NFT)

Alastair Brown of The Whisky Barrel with world’s first digitally-certified Scotch whisky

In recognition of the growth of virtual whisky collections, Alastair Brown, who runs Fife-based The Whisky Barrel with brother Chris, has pioneered a revolutionary whisky authentication process that harnesses blockchain technology.

Made publicly available today, The Whisky Barrel’s Digital Provenance Certificates (NFTs) securely transmit essential product information on a public ledger, helping collectors and connoisseurs alleviate the risk of investing in counterfeit whisky.”

Using blockchain technology offers our customers a continuously updated, secure record of ownership for each individual bottle, adding a layer of provenance that’s unrivalled in the Scotch whisky industry.” Alastair Brown

Developed in conjunction with Aberdeen-based tech start-up CD Corp., this is the world’s first Scotch whisky collection to use digital certification to verify provenance. Each Digital Provenance Certificate is minted on the Solana (SOL) blockchain platform, chosen for its verified carbon-neutral, low-energy consumption.

L-R Murdo McCandlish (CDC), Joseph McGraw (CDC), Ryan Aitken (CDC), Chris Brown (TWB), Alastair Brown (TWB)

“Alastair and Chris trusted us to execute our vision of immutable digital provenance certificates correlating with each bottle in a collection. They are at the forefront of this new process of authentication for rare Scotch whisky, and I believe their openness to a more inclusive integration of blockchain technology will reap rewards for their business long term” Ryan Aitken, Managing Director of CD Corp. Ltd.

Today sees the release of the first bottling — a 30-year-old distilled at the Glen Moray distillery in Elgin. Each of the 152 individually-numbered bottles feature a unique QR code that links to its corresponding Digital Provenance Certificate. This token provides digital proof of ownership, as well as the provenance of each bottle.

The Whisky Barrel’s 30-year-old Glen Elgin with Digital Certificate of Authenticity

Owners of the first bottles are granted VIP membership to The Whisky Barrel Scotch Club hosted by Solsea. The first 30 NFTs feature a unique graphic representation of the bottle, enhancing their collectability.”

Blockchain technology is not just for the big companies, it’s for small companies like ours. It is the future. Applying a certified digital history to a physical bottle of premium Scotch whisky is the ultimate provenance for our barley-to-bottle approach.” Alastair Brown

The Glen Moray is the first release from The Whisky Barrel’s 15th Anniversary Portfolio Series, that will culminate in the bottling of a 50-year-old cask whisky at the end of the year.

First-release Glen Moray 30-year-old

The first release of The Whisky Barrel’s 15th Anniversary Portfolio Digital Provenance Certificate series is a Glen Moray 30-year-old, bottled from their own casks stored at their warehouse. This modest yield of 152 unique bottles was minted on 12th January 2022. The Whisky Barrel’s decision to digitally certify their provenance adds an enhanced layer of security for buyers.Speyside single malt distilled at Glen Moray Distillery.1991 vintage.54.9% ALC/VOL

Single cask, 1st fill Palo Cortado Hogshead

Bottled the old-fashioned way at cask strength with natural colour and unchill-filtered.Tasting notes:Nose: fruit salad, burnt orange peel, toffee, green apples and fudge.Taste: peach and pink grapefruit compote, butterfudge, vanilla and spices.Finish: long, oily mouthfeel, figs, mint and ripe grapes.

Bottle #001 Digital Certificate of Authenticity (NFT) on Solsea:

https://solsea.io/nft/3LvXBcigfvRaBaes5PGci8bcUWrBovZuL7uAXgaxgNwc

About The Whisky Barrel — TheWhiskyBarrel.com

The Whisky Barrel is an online Scotch whisky retailer and bottling company with customers in over 50 countries worldwide. Located in the Kingdom of Fife, Scotland, the business celebrates its 15th anniversary this year.

Founded by Alastair Brown in 2007, today the company owns an enviable portfolio of Scotch whisky, maturing in casks under bond, including whiskies from Scotland’s best-known distilleries.Alastair’s brother Chris joined the company in 2015 to direct the company’s e-commerce platform and to help diversify the business. Today, The Whisky Barrel stocks thousands of premium whiskies and rums that can be delivered globally within days.

The Whisky Barrel received the Queen’s Award for outstanding international trade growth in 2019.Sustainability is at the core of The Whisky Barrel’s ethos, and this year they are planting 350 trees at Falkland Estate in Fife as part of Her Majesty The Queen’s Green Canopy initiative.

Alastair Brown – Managing Director & Founder

Alastair is a qualified I.T. professional who has worked in e-commerce and international trade for 20 years in senior management positions, founding The Whisky Barrel in 2007. By building relationships with the world’s most prestigious Scotch whisky brands, Alastair has built the business into an internationally-recognised specialist online whisky merchant, exporting millions of pounds worth of Scotch whisky annually. Alastair lives with his wife and young daughter in north east Fife.

About CD Corp.

Aberdeen-based tech start-up CD Corp was founded in 2021 by Robert Gordon University graduates Ryan Aitken, Murdo McCandlish and Joseph McGraw, with American digital finance consultant and investor, Ryan Caudill. Aitken was introduced to digital currencies and their possibilities by Caudill whilst studying for a semester at Oklahoma State University in 2018.

About Digital Provenance Certificates

With the release of a Glen Moray 30-year-old single malt, The Whisky Barrel is introducing the world’s first single-cask Scotch whisky with a full Digital Provenance Certificate, unique to each individually-numbered bottle.

The bottle’s information — the distillery, cask type and bottle number — is accessed via the QR code on the label, that can be verified on virtual platforms including online auctions. This acts as a digital proof of ownership, transferred to the buyer upon purchase, meaning its provenance can be verified using a Smartphone in seconds. It’s possible for owners to trade their Digital Provenance Certificate with the corresponding bottle. Or to trade the bottle and transfer the digital ownership to a new owner.

For Scotch whisky collectors and connoisseurs, provenance is important. The Whisky Barrel’s process of authentication is the first of its kind for the Scotch Whisky industry, preventing counterfeit Scotch entering the marketplace. To mark their 15th Anniversary year, The Whisky Barrel has selected some of their best Scotch whisky casks for a series titled ‘Portfolio’. Each bottle has its own Digital Provenance Certificate which is transferred when the bottles are delivered.

Collectors and connoisseurs wishing to purchase whisky with a Digital Provenance Certificate must join The Whisky Barrel® Scotch Club on SolSea.io or visit the https://www.thewhiskybarrel.com. Buyers should note that no two casks of Scotch whisky have identical taste profiles, and no two bottles are identical at The Whisky Barrel® Scotch Club on SolSea.io. It’s possible to build a digital Scotch whisky collection on SolSea.io Marketplace (or securely within a personal digital wallet), to collect or trade.

The Whisky Barrel partnered with CD Corp. (CryptoDramz) to analyse the Scotch whisky provenance process and apply a blockchain-based DPC to every bottle of their single cask Scotch. They use Solana blockchain — best known for its native token SOL — due to its low-energy, carbon neutral credentials. Each bottle features a unique QR code on the label, this links to its very own Digital Provenance Certificate, also known as an NFT (Non-Fungible Token). These cannot be changed thus certifying the provenance and ownership of each bottle.

Chef Michael Crouch Joins Watch Hill Proper as Executive Chef 

Louisville, KY (February 24, 2022) – Louisville’s first premier bourbon club, Watch Hill Proper, has announced a well-known expert to take the food program to a new level. Chef Michael Crouch will be the Executive Chef for the club. This is his first opportunity to lead a creative restaurant team since Bistro 1860.

The excitement over Michael joining the team led to the owners’ decision to expand the kitchen space to accommodate more staff and capabilities. They are currently hiring kitchen staff to join the group; applications are accepted at WatchHillProper.com.

“We are beyond excited to be able to add Michael to our amazing team,” says co-founder Tommy Craggs. “Honestly, we have downplayed our food menu from the very beginning. When it became clear that we had the opportunity to add Michael, we switched gears. So much so that we are in the process of doubling the size of our kitchen. Michael’s talent and creativity is elevating the quality of our menu and allowing us to really expand the role that food will play at Watch Hill Proper.”

By showcasing his culinary skills over the years as a private chef and at many respected Louisville restaurants, including Bourbons Bistro and Bistro 1860, Michael has earned the reputation of being one of the premier chefs in Louisville. He spent several summers in Paris learning from some of the top French Masters. Michael will use his love of exploring flavors to provide bold, flavorful cuisine yet simple and elegantly presented to deliver an unforgettable dining experience for Watch Hill Proper guests.

“I’m more than excited to be joining Josh and Tommy on this new venture in Norton Commons and honing my skills in a commercial kitchen again,” says Chef Michael Crouch. “This amazing concept will be bringing people far and wide and at the same time rekindling so many great relationships with the countless friends I have accumulated through my culinary journey thus far in this great city. Expect a selection of dishes that are easily shareable in addition to a handful of individual entrées. There will certainly be something for everyone. Bear with us as we extend our kitchen and slowly add to our menu. Great things to come! Lastly…drink whiskey.”

What makes Watch Hill Proper so unique? It’s a celebration of bourbon and its rich Kentucky history. The ambiance, the architecture, the knowledgeable staff assisting guests in selecting the perfect pairing of food and beverage… it’s an immersive experience. In addition to the expansive whiskey offerings and rare bourbon list, an extensive wine list and expertly crafted specialty cocktails will be available.

While membership has major perks at Watch Hill Proper, the club is open to everyone. Only members can make table reservations at the club, but anyone can walk in and be seated. Membership provides discounts on drinks, early access to purchase the club barrel picks, spirit lockers, and invitations to special member-only events along with many other privileges. However, anyone who wants to have a great bourbon experience is invited to visit.

“Watch Hill Proper is a place for everyone to enjoy,” explains co-founder Josh Howes. “We have a huge whiskey collection, a world-class cocktail program, an extensive wine list, an incredibly talented staff, and in our opinion one of the best chefs in the city. We want to give everyone that visits us an experience of a lifetime.”

Watch Hill Proper is expected to open to the public in April, and special members-only events and grand opening celebrations are in the works. For more information or membership details, please visit watchhillproper.com or contact Bev Reese at (502) 230-1982.

For more information about Chef Michael Crouch, visit chefmichaelcrouch.com.

About Watch Hill Proper:

Watch Hill Proper, located in Norton Commons, is Louisville’s first premier membership bourbon club. The purpose is to be a community built around a common interest – bourbon. The goal is to be a community of ambassadors for Kentucky’s signature industry and do it in style. For more information about Watch Hill Proper, or to apply for membership, visit www.watchhillproper.com.

In February we survived three storms and thunder snow but we are coming back for more – Storms Dudley, Eunice & Franklin were no match for SWA!

Below you will find our UK Collection schedule for March 2022.
Please note the deadline date for all collections in now 12 noon on Monday 14th March 2022.

To register your interest in a collection please complete the form which can be found here.

Please note home collections are available to those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000 and above in towns and cities where we do not offer a collection point.

Please get in touch if your area is not listed below but you would like a home collection. We will do our best to accommodate all requests.

Collections are limited and by appointment only. If you would like to attend please complete the form which can be found here. Please note dead lines apply for collection requests.

It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift. In addition the attached submission form and label should be completed.

A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery (to collection point) service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Submission Form & Label

MARCH OUTTURN ALERT

Embrace the season of new beginnings with fresh flavours guaranteed to put a spring in your step. March Outturn is in full bloom with 18 new casks to taste and explore, available online NOW.

NEW OUTTURN

READ OUTTURN HUB

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

ralfy review 917 – Tomintoul 14yo @46%vol:

NEXT BATCH OF REVERED GLENALLACHIE

10-YEAR-OLD ANNOUNCED

 Batch 7 of the multi-award-winning Speyside distillery’s popular 10-year-old

Cask Strength bottling is newest addition to core range

Independently owned and managed distillery The GlenAllachie today launches the next instalment of its coveted 10-year-old Single Malt: The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 7.

The release follows acclaimed previous batches from the Speyside distillery; most notably the fourth instalment which was awarded World’s Best Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021).

Batch 7 (UK RRSP £62.99) was expertly aged in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry puncheons, Rioja barriques and virgin oak casks, all personally selected and blended by esteemed Master Distiller Billy Walker.

Walker – who this year celebrates reaching an astonishing half-century as a blender in the Scotch Whisky industry – holds widespread recognition for his hands-on approach and innovative maturation philosophy. Each release of the decade-old expression reflects this distinguished expertise in wood management.

Presented at 56.8% ABV, without added colouring or chill filtration, the punchy cask strength spirit of the seventh batch is abundant with rich mocha, stewed plums, runny honey and cinnamon tones.

Remarking on this latest batch release, Walker comments:

“Every batch we create of our 10-year-old Cask Strength represents the direction in which we are taking The GlenAllachie. From the outset, our defined objective has been to achieve a bold and flavourful yet balanced spirit, predominantly matured in Sherry wood, but with interesting twists introduced by unusual cask types.

“This latest batch is a complex and enjoyable drinking experience which brings together spirit from some truly exceptional Sherry, Wine and virgin oak casks. I must say, this one is pretty special!”

Prior to this launch, the latest addition to The GlenAllachie’s core range was the 21-year-old Cask Strength Batch 2, unveiled in February 2022.

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 7 is available to purchase from global specialist retailers, with a UK RRSP of £62.99.

ABOUT GLENALLACHIE:

One of Scotland’s few independently owned and managed distilleries, The GlenAllachie is led by industry veteran, Billy Walker, who boasts an almost 50-year tenure in whisky. With an emphasis on wood policy, The GlenAllachie’s cask budget for 2021 stands at an eye-watering £1m/$1.2m. With 16 on-site warehouses holding over 50,000 casks, we have complete control of the end-to-end maturation process.

The GlenAllachie focusses on quality over quantity, which is why we chose to reduce our production capacity from 4m to 500,000 Litres of Alcohol, and increase our fermentation period to 160 hours for an ester rich, fruity spirit.

We believe age and integrity matter, which is why all our whiskies carry an age statement, and are bottled at a minimum of 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered for maximum flavour experience.

Our other brands are MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits, encompassing Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky and Exploration Rum, and White Heather Blended Scotch Whisky.

Further information on the distillery and company can be found at www.theglenallachie.com

Facebook – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Twitter – @TheGlenAllachie    |    Instagram – @theglenallachie_

TASTING NOTES:

The GlenAllachie 10-year-old Cask Strength Batch 7 – 56.8% ABV

• Colour: Rich Mahogany.
• Nose: Waves of heather honey, dried fruit, cinnamon and nutmeg, followed by orange peel, mocha and treacle.
• Taste: Lashings of dark chocolate, figs and heather honey, with raisins, cinnamon, plums and hints of orange zest.

Our bumper 129th auction is now live, and with over 9000 bottles to choose from we thought we’d help by highlighting a few special bottles.

Bowmore 1964 35 Year Old Single Cask #3709

One of only 99 bottles produced, this Bowmore 1964 is rare, and the dark unctuous liquid has had us all salivating this month.  We’ve only auctioned this once before in over 10 years which gives you some idea of its rarity.

Littlemill 1990 23 Year Old for Wealth Solutions

A piece of liquid history from Littlemill, a now silent distillery which was one of the oldest licensed distilleries in Scotland.  Older bottlings of Littlemill are rare so grab this one while you can.

Port Ellen 1981 Feis Ile 2008

Around this time of the year our heads all start turning to the Feis, and this 2008 Feis Ile bottling of Port Ellen should help focus the mind.  This is a rare expression and represents a great opportunity for someone with a gap in their collection.

With such a large auction there is bound to be something for everyone and some relative bargains to be had, so get browsing now to find your bottle of something special this month.

View Auction

Aerolite Lyndsay
Islay 10 Year Old

WAS £46.00
NOW £35.00
Buy Now

AEROLITE LYNDSAY ISLAY 10 YEAR OLD DESCRIPTION

Fukano “Amabie” SCWC/K&L Exclusive Single Manzanilla Sherry Butt #MS326 Cask Strength Japanese Whisky (750ml) $99.99 View

Ohishi 7 Year Old SCWC/K&L Exclusive Single Madeira Cask Finish Japanese Whisky (750ml) $79.99 View

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

The most highly anticipated date in every whisky and spirits aficionado’s diary is back – get ready for what is truly, the ultimate whisky and spirits experience on earth! The Universal Whisky Experience is celebrating its 10th Anniversary at the luxurious Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas on April 22-23 and this year is set to be the most memorable event in industry history!

• The largest celebration of whisky & spirits in the world
• Taste the finest super pours
• Over 200 whiskies under one roof
• Exclusive bottlings from around the globe
• Industry leading Master Classes
• Meet legends of the whisky world
• Over 50 exhibitors

Don’t miss out on the ultimate whisky & spirits experience

BUY TICKETS HERE