Proof 8 named 2026 innovation finalist by Discus
Distillery and warehouse management platform Proof 8 has been chosen as the sole UK finalist in the 2026 Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (Discus) Innovation Showcase.
Proof 8 is the only UK technology innovator at the global showcase. It has been recognised for transforming cask management with digital deeds.
Organised by the Discus, the Innovation Showcase emphasises groundbreaking advancements in packaging, sustainability, technology, supply chain, marketing, and social responsibility.
Now in its sixth year, the competition honours innovations that demonstrate originality, scalability, feasibility, and real-world impact.
Alongside Proof 8, other finalists for the 2026 awards include Black Swan Wood Products, Far North Spirits, Galloway Company, Ohio Liquor, and Wheyward Spirit.
The winner will be announced at the Discus Annual Conference in March 2026.
Chris Swonger, president and CEO of Discus, commented: “These six finalists exemplify the creativity, craftsmanship and forward-thinking spirit driving our industry. The Innovation Showcase is a powerful platform to recognise new ideas and technologies that move the spirits community forward, from production and packaging to sustainability and consumer engagement.”
Proof 8’s digital deeds impressed the judges with their innovative approach to enhancing transparency within the industry. These secure, blockchain-based digital records document ownership, provenance, and location for each cask throughout its lifetime.
The system provides distilleries and warehouses with real-time visibility at every stage of cask management, eliminating the risks and inefficiencies associated with paper-based or outdated legacy systems.
Stuart Maxwell, chief operating officer at Proof 8, said: “To be named finalists in the Discus Innovation Showcase is global acknowledgement from a leading industry body that digital deeds are solving a long-standing, complex problem for the spirits industry. We’re focused on helping distillers and warehouses operate with greater efficiency and transparency, so they spend less time on admin and more time crafting exceptional spirits.
“Digital deeds give everyone, from producers to cask owners, the confidence and clarity they now expect to know where a cask is, what’s in it and who produced it, with every small detail accounted for. They’ve transformed a critical part of modern distilling and are indicative of the industry’s shift towards smarter, more transparent systems.”
Earlier this month, Proof 8 appointed Stuart Maxwell, former head of product, as its new chief operating officer.
At The Spirits Business Awards 2025, the platform will sponsor the Distiller of the Year category for the second year in a row.
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