In a press release issued yesterday, Glenfiddich and BlockBar announced they are auctioning a 39-year-old cask of whiskey worth between $750,000 and $1.2 million. The whiskey has been barreled twice, first in American oak and later in sherry European oak, and the cask will be able to produce 150 750 ml bottles.
Here are the pertinent details:
- The auction will take place until July 24th, 9am CST
- There will be one winner, who will initially receive a single “cask” NFT
- On September 19th, the cask will be bottled, with the NFT splitting into 150 “bottle” NFTs
- Holders of the NFTs can then redeem them for physical bottles in February 2025
In addition, the winner of the auction will have the option of participating in a unique Glenfiddich experience, including a VIP tasting and distillery tour, dinner, and an overnight stay at one of the William Grant and Sons houses on the company property. William Grant and Sons is the owner of Glenfiddich, with William Grant founding the distillery in Dufftown, Scotland in 1887.
Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich’s Malt Master, said that this “exclusive cask bottling…is a piece of [the distillery’s] history. This is a true one-off…a stunning whiskey that is in its prime.” He noted that the color is beautifully dark with an intense flavor that has the Glenfiddich character at the heart of it. The whiskey is a true piece of history.
BlockBar, an NFT marketplace and auction house focused on rare wines and spirits, has partnered with Glenfiddich before. The two have auctioned at least three other whiskeys, including a 21-year-old Chinese limited edition, a 1973 Armagnac cask finish single malt, and a 30-year-old Suspended Time limited edition.
Jamie Ritchie, BlockBar’s COO, said the whiskey being auctioned perfectly illustrates the pioneering and innovative approach of the Glenfiddich team, as well as their dedication to the highest quality.
BlockBar Presses Forward Despite NFT Market Slump
Although the NFT market has yet to recover from the 2022-2023 bear market, BlockBar has continued to press on. Over the past several months, it has auctioned many casks of exclusive spirits from well-known brands, always relying on NFT technology to confer ownership to the auction winners. Here are three of our most recent stories about BlockBar and the innovation it is bringing to the wine and spirits industry.
First, one month ago, BlockBar partnered with Don Julio to auction five casks of a limited edition tequila. The companies valued each cask at $35,000, with a cask consisting of 40 cases or 240 750 ml bottles. This limited edition tequila came from variants of ‘Don Julio 1942,’ making it attractive to aficionados of the liquor.
Next, two months ago, BlockBar partnered with Château d’Esclans for a historic first: putting a rosé on the blockchain. Designated as a ‘Garrus,’ the rosé was auctioned until the end of May, with the bidding starting at $22,000 for each barrel. As with other BlockBar auctions, the winners received other prizes, including a tour of the Château d’Esclans vineyard in France.
Lastly, two years ago, BlockBar announced a contest associated with Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC). In the contest, 10 holders of BAYC NFTs had the chance to put their Ape on the label of a whisky bottle and receive 5 percent royalties on the sales of those bottles at the same time.
As these stories show, BlockBar has been busy in Web3 and is still pushing through the NFT market’s slump. We’ll keep an eye out for any developments in the story and update this article if needed.