VCL harnesses blockchain technology
By Georgie CollinsLondon-headquartered VCL Vintners (VCL) has become the first UK whisky broker to adopt ‘pioneering’ blockchain technology to manage its cask inventory.

Known for its expertise in sourcing and trading rare whisky casks, VCL is aiming to position itself at the forefront of the industry’s revolution by turning to blockchain technology, with the view of transforming its operations and guaranteeing full traceability and transparency of its inventory.
Using Proof 8’s proprietary SaaS (software as a service) platform, VCL is now able to track and verify every stage of a product’s life cycle with real-time data and secure, immutable records known as ‘digital deeds’, a trusted record of ownership which is a digital representation of the physical asset. This approach makes it easier to prove provenance, maintain compliance and ensure transparency of ownership.
Benjamin Lancaster, founder and partner of VCL, said: “Proof 8 has harnessed blockchain technology to deliver hands-down the best end-to-end cask management solution on the market. Already employed by future-thinking distilleries and warehouses to improve operational processes and productivity, we are proud to be the first broker to fully adopt the Proof 8 platform to manage our clients’ assets.
“Full traceability and transparency is crucial, especially in an industry like whisky where provenance can make or break the value of an asset. Through this innovation, we are modernising the way in which whisky is traded and invested. The digital transformation also addresses some long-standing challenges in the market, including counterfeiting and fraud. Investors now have a reliable way to track their assets, guaranteeing peace of mind.
“Because ‘Digital Deeds’ are securely recorded on the blockchain and are unique to each asset, like a fingerprint, they cannot be copied or modified and so provide a secure, verifiable record of authenticity that buyers and collectors can trust when it comes to their investments.”
VCL made headlines in 2021 when it collaborated with Proof 8 on another of its innovative platforms – Metacask – to auction a rare 1991 cask of The Macallan, attaching a blockchain-based token (NFT) – an early iteration of the Proof 8 ‘digital deed’.
The cask sold for a record-breaking US$2.3 million, setting a new precedent in the world of high-value collectibles.
Lancaster added: “Blockchain technology has already had a transformative impact on industries like finance, banking and healthcare – that have complex supply chains, data-sharing requirements and high regulatory and compliance requirements, and we were convinced that it could be a game-changer in asset-backed investments like whisky.
“Before The Macallan sale it was a relatively untapped market, and Proof 8 has developed a secure, scalable solution that provides a seamless way to trade, track and authenticate ownership in a way traditional methods simply couldn’t match.”
Rob Hollands, CEO at Proof 8, said: “Moving away from paper-based records, certificates of ownership, and unreliable tools such as Excel to manage the production process, provides a real opportunity for better data across the whole industry. This not only unlocks the potential for greater efficiencies in the production and maturation process but, crucially for collectors, whisky enthusiasts and brokers, brings assurance of ownership and provenance which previously didn’t exist.
“With our platform, there can no longer be any doubt over the origins, location and ownership of an asset. Every crucial piece of information is collected, stored and tracked on our platform throughout its entire lifetime. And this information is accessible at any time.
“This level of transparency and traceability, from grain to glass, is now the new standard for the industry today. As the first whisky broker to implement our platform, VCL shares our values of transforming spirits with trust, transparency and innovation at the core.”
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