The makers of a newly launched blend of Scotch and Australian whisky say it is the first to use new Blockchain technology to demonstrate its provenance and authenticity.
Created by Scottish firms Fusion and Adelphi, The Brisbane contains whiskies from Glen Garioch and Glen Moray distilleries, in Oldmeldrum and Rothes, and the Starward Distillery in Melbourne, Australia.
Partners in the project, arc-net, who provided the Blockchain platform and support, said they hoped to set a “global standard in product and supply-chain transparency”.
The technology behind digital currency Bitcoin, Blockchain is a way of recording data and creating a secure digital ledger of transactions, agreements and contracts. Its contents are distributed across hundreds, or even thousands, of computers around the world and, once updated, can be added to, but not altered.
Kieran Kelly, of arc-net, said: “Our aim is to establish the global standard in product and supply-chain transparency, authentication and security, providing the consumer with 100% traceability, provenance and product authenticity.
“The arc-net platform offers both brand and product protection and provides brands with a voice on the global stage. All the team at arc-net are very proud to be the first company to use Blockchain technology with a whisky.”
Named after Scottish Army officer, astronomer and New South Wales governor Sir Thomas Brisbane, the whisky is the fourth international blend to be launched by Fusion and Adelphi.
Alex Bruce, managing director and master blender at Adelphi, said: “Thomas Brisbane was a great champion of science, so it’s entirely appropriate we pioneer this new technology with a whisky made in his honour.”
He added: “We believe never before has someone taken Scotch and paired it with Australian whisky to create something as wonderfully unique and compelling as The Brisbane.
“This ground-breaking whisky follows closely on from our Winter Queen whisky, which marries Scotch with Dutch whisky, and our E&K, which blended Scotch and Indian whisky.
“With The Brisbane, we’re very proud to be honouring another great Scot, and one who left a lasting legacy in Australia. With care and creativity, blending high-quality whiskies from different maturation climates can result in some captivating and utterly unique whiskies.”