A collection of distilleries and breweries that have utilized Nft technology
Of CNBCTV18.com IST (published)
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Follow along as we unpack some of the most notable NFT releases from the spirits industry.
NFTs have had an astronomical rise to fame. They went from a relatively unknown technology a few years ago, to a thriving industry that celebrities, brands and some of the biggest companies in the world want to get into.
The spirits industry has also flown with the times; several reputable distilleries and breweries have already jumped on the NFT bandwagon, and many more continue to do so. Follow along as we unpack some of the most notable NFT releases from the spirits industry.
Johnnie Walker
On September 1, Johnnie Walker, the world’s premier Scotch whiskey brand, announced its second NFT release. The collection consists of 75 limited edition Ghost and Rare Port Dundas Master Sets. The collection will be available on BlockBar from September 9 onwards, with each NFT priced at $775. The extremely rare expression will be presented in a Baccarat Crystal decanter enclosed in a handcrafted wooden storage box. BlockBar will hold the physical bottle until the owner is ready to redeem the NFT. Alternatively, they can give or sell the bottle on the BlockBar market.
William Grant and Sons
One of the things this Scottish distiller is known for is its flagship single malt, Glenfiddich. Besides being among the most awarded brands in the spirits industry, it is also one of the first spirits brands to test the NFT water. In October 2021, Glenfiddich launched a collection of 15 limited edition NFTs in collaboration with BlockBar.
Each NFT represented a rare, 46-year-old bottle of single malt Scotch whisky. A 1973 vintage, aged in an Armagnac cask, to be more specific. The collection was listed exclusively on BlockBar’s NFT marketplace with a floor price of $18,000 each. Owners can sell the NFT or exchange it for the actual bottle at any time through BlockBar.
Dalmore
Dalmore is perhaps one of the rarest and most exclusive Scotch whiskey brands in the world. The latest release, The Dalmore’s Decades No. 6 Collection, sold for over $1.1 million at the Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong. Spurred on by this success, the brand decided to make its NFT debut through its Decades No. 4 Collection. Each set in this collection contains whiskeys from four decades, the 70s, 80s, 90s and 2000s, each hand-selected by Master Distiller Richard Paterson.
The set will include four decanters with black collars and stoppers, each with an authentic screen and an exclusive number engraving. The NFT holder is also entitled to a private visit to The Dalmore’s distillery in Scotland. And once again, the physical bottle will be stored with BlockBar and can be redeemed at any time. The set was priced at $137,000 each.
Bacardi
Bacardi is known for using NFT technology for the good of society. In September 2021, the brand launched its limited edition Reserva Ocho Sherry Cask Finish rum through an NFT. The company hired ace photographer Cam Kirk to take exclusive portraits of the collection. Kirk also created video effects and interactive motion graphics for NFT. Bacardi will use the proceeds from the NFT sale to support Black-owned businesses trying to obtain liquor licenses.
Earlier in 2017, Bacardi partnered with Caribbean music producer Boi-1da to shine a light on aspiring female music producers. The company selected three rising stars – Bambii, Denise De’ion and Perfxn – to create Caribbean-inspired tunes, which were then branded as NFTs. Proceeds from this collection will go towards empowering budding young female musicians.
Dictator
Dictador is a Colombian rum producer that has been in business for more than a century. It had one of the most rounded NFT releases, which saw the launch of 10 limited edition bottles of 1976 Dictador Generations rum.
Each bottle has personalized packaging with an album that tells the story of its production. It comes with perks like a five-star stay in Colombia and a tour of the family’s private distillery and collection. NFT does not only denote rooms with a limited edition, but also the experience on offer. Rightfully so, the price of NFT is currently around $50,000.
Budweiser
Conversations around American football begin and end around Bud Light, and the brand wanted to capitalize on this connection between product and sport.
Therefore, before Super Bowl 56, the company launched a new product, Bud Light NEXT, a zero-carb beer. Along with the product, Budweiser also launched an NFT collection named after and centered around Bud Light Next. The collection featured 12,422 digital artworks starting at $399 each.
Prior to this, the company also launched the Budverse Cans collection in November 2021. It featured artwork of the brand’s first beer can produced in 1936. Fittingly, the collection consists of 1,936 artworks, 36 of which are considered gold NFTs, and cost $999, while the rest were priced at $499.
Hennessy
Hennessy is an iconic 250-year-old Cognac producer and one of the latest spirits labels to enter the NFT space. In January this year, the brand launched its NFT product called Hennessy-8. The name comes from the fact that it is a blend of brandy from the company’s last eight master blenders. The elegant decanter comes in an oak storage chest, along with a commemorative sculpture and a toolbox containing tasting glasses, among many other goodies. The collection consists of only two NFTs that will be sold on BlockBar for 58 ETH each, worth approximately $226,450 at the time.
Conclusion
There are only a few of the well-known spirits brands that have made inroads into the NFT area. Several other brands have also experimented with these digital assets, some of which include well-known brands such as Stella Artois, Pernod Ricard, Royal Salute, and so on. As time goes on, more and more brands will jump on the NFT bandwagon, looking to make it big in the digital world.
