Macallan whisky is renowned by whisky lovers for setting world records, and the famous distillery has now claimed the title for the most expensive cask of whisky ever sold, at $2.33 million.
The Macallan 1991 cask was recently sold at auction, but the high price may have been for more than just the whisky in the barrel. Along with the cask, a specially commissioned non-fungible token (NFT) was included in the sale. This is a digital piece of artwork created by NFT artist Trevor Jones. It depicts an abstract-shaped barrel called The Angel’s Share, and it replaces the usual practice of providing a cask photo for verification.
In general, new releases can sometimes include specially engraved crystal glasses and decanters, or even original artwork labels, such as on the Macallan 1926, which has continued to attract buyers, with the current price for a single bottle standing at a record-breaking $1.9 million.
The broker of the Macallan 1991 cask, VCL Vintners, decided to bring digital technology into play with its latest release. According to Food & Wine, VCL Vintners Director Stuart Thom explained that:
“The collaboration with Trevor and Metacask to create an abstract NFT artwork – which is based on an oil painting – gives the new owner a 21st century way to connect with their whisky.”
While the 1991 is not a rare vintage, the cask should yield around 600 bottles, with an average price of about $3,880. It is believed the addition of the NFT is what has pushed the price so high, although this theory can’t be proved, as both whisky and NFTs can command very high prices in today’s investment marketplace.
