Celebrating Year of the Tiger, Glenfiddich has announced the release of two hundred exclusive NFTs. The launch is being made via BlockBar.com – the world’s first DTC NFT marketplace for wines and spirits – in recognition of the Lunar New Year.
A new kind of digital purchase
NFT is an acronym for ‘non-fungible token’, the digital version of a collectable, which allows access to unique products and exclusive content. Each corresponding NFT purchased is linked to a physical bottle of Glenfiddich’s 21-year-old Reserva Rum cask single malt Scotch whisky and serves as a digital receipt verifying ownership and authenticity.
Serving as a kind of currency (much like bitcoin), buyers can choose to resell their NFT via BlockBar.com’s marketplace, gift it onwards, or redeem it for the physical bottle at any time.
Raised in Scotland, roused by the Caribbean
Family-owned distiller Glenfiddich has a reputation for adopting revolutionary methods and practices, with a history dating back to the 1800s. The best-selling brand now retails in over 180 countries across the world and has won countless awards and accolades.
Glenfiddich’s 21 Year Old is a traditional Speyside whisky, matured for just over two decades on?site at the Dufftown distillery. Malt Master, Brian Kinsman, hand picks selected barrels to finish in Caribbean rum casks, infusing notes of ginger, fig, lime, banana and a spicy toffee warmth, to create a unique and exotic spirit.
Will Peacock, Global Luxury Director of William Grant & Sons (producer of Glenfiddich’s whisky) said of the new launch:
“We’re delighted to launch our first-ever Chinese New Year NFT with BlockBar.com to help mark the Year of the Tiger. This limited edition bottle design exclusive to BlockBar is inspired by the final of the trilogy series with Rlon Wang which celebrates the endless possibilities for 2022, and we’re pleased to share this sentiment with two hundred lucky customers.”
Read our guide to our favourite whisky
Old meets new
BlockBar is by contrast a much newer name, having been founded in October 2021. Established to connect consumers and collectors with the owners of luxury wine and spirits brands, the enterprise was created by Dov and Sam Falic to provide transparency, authenticity, quality assurance and storage (physical bottles are stored in a secure facility in Singapore with 24/7 security, motion sensors, and temperature control). Their platform allows consumers to purchase asset-backed NFTs directly from the brands, verifying authenticity. And as they’re partnered with top cyber- and crypto-security firms, BlockBar offers transactions that are fully protected.
Extended limited edition design
It’s been inspired by the last in the Chinese New Year trilogy. The imagery, designed by illustrator Rlon Wang, creates a sense of endless horizons, possibility and opportunity for this year, in which Glenfiddich’s emblematic Stag takes centre stage. NFTs include access to a JPG of the Wang’s complete artwork, including individual digital illustrations of the icons that make up the overall design. Plus there’s a Golden Stag GIF that can be used to unlock early access to the next Glenfiddich drop.
200 bottles of the Glenfiddich 21 Year Old Chinese New Year Limited Edition were made available for purchase on the first day of the Lunar New Year (Tuesday 1st February). Priced at 0.15 ETH each, NFTs can be bought from BlockBar.com using Ethereum (ETH) or a credit card.
