Collectors, retailers, and auction houses will soon be able to authenticate bottles of rare vintage whisky by using their smartphones to tap an anti-tamper NFC bottle closure that connects to a digital certification record held on a private blockchain. blockchain whisky

An agreement announced Friday will see the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC) at the Glasgow institution using Everledger’s anti-tamper bottle tags and blockchain platform to track rare whiskies.

SUERC has been tasked with finding ways to authenticate whisky provenance by producers, retailers, auction houses, and collectors.

The center’s researchers estimate that the market for vintage single-malt Scotch whiskies was valued at £57.7 million ($78 million) in 2018. SUERC believes that around 40% of all rare vintage whiskies in circulation may be fake. blockchain whisky

In 2018, the center found that out of 55 bottles of rare Scotch it had tested, 21 bottles were either fake or not distilled in the year indicated on the label.

The researchers can tell the fake malt whisky samples from the genuine ones by removing small samples through the cork and interpreting the radiocarbon data in a laboratory.

“By being granted unprecedented access to samples of the world’s rarest whiskies, its researchers have created a unique radiocarbon dating curve that is now used to determine the age of all types of vintage whiskies,” the university said.

Everledger’s NFC-enabled bottle caps and blockchain network are expected to help protect stakeholders along the commercial chain from counterfeit products.

“One aspect of the process that has eluded us is securing a permanent digital record of a whisky’s origin and age,” said Elaine Dunbar, research scientist at SUERC. “We are therefore absolutely delighted to establish a partnership with Everledger will provide a lasting seal and a digital record of the whisky and details of its radiocarbon analysis.” blockchain whisky