In a pioneering move, Chivas Brothers’ The Glenlivet has announced the release of an exclusive collection of 50-year-old whiskies, which will be available for purchase through a blockchain-enabled marketplace known as The Whisky Exchange Cabinet. Each bottle from The Glenlivet: The Twelve Elements collection is priced at €40,000 (US$43,062) and represents a significant moment in the distillery’s history, coinciding with its 200th anniversary.
The Twelve Elements collection consists of 12 unique bottles, each a product of a 50-year maturation process that began in 1974. The whiskies have been aged in two carefully chosen casks, with the collection’s name reflecting the 12 elements essential to the creation of The Glenlivet single malt. These elements include air, the angel’s share, barley, coopers, copper, distillers, earth, fire, time, water, and wood.
Kevin Balmforth, a cask expert at The Glenlivet, highlighted the exquisite balance and depth of character achieved through the union of nature and human craftsmanship. The two casks—a first-fill Bourbon barrel and refill hogsheads—contribute to the whisky’s complex profile, with notes of caramel sweetness, honeycomb, toasted oak, and ginger spice.
The launch on The Whisky Exchange Cabinet is scheduled for February 21, and buyers will receive transferable digital certificates to authenticate their ownership. Additionally, they will have the chance to sample the whisky at various stages—48, 49, and 50 years old.
The Glenlivet’s bicentenary celebrations have already seen the release of a fusion cask whisky and a limited edition 12-year-old single malt. The distillery’s foray into blockchain technology is part of a growing trend that merges the worlds of rare spirits and digital trading platforms, offering collectors a new avenue for secure and verifiable investments in luxury spirits.
