Proof 8 COO: spirits operations must embrace digital

Stuart Maxwell, chief operating officer (COO) at Proof 8, believes distilleries must embrace more digital ways of working to succeed in 2026.

As COO of Proof 8, a Blockchain-backed distillery and warehouse management platform, Stuart Maxwell is eager to see the spirits industry embrace technology to streamline their operations, including inventory and cask management.

“With AI reshaping everything from how we run businesses to how we live our daily lives, many have experienced technology that promises more than it delivers,” he says. “That’s why due diligence matters more than ever when it comes to deciding what technology to adopt, especially one like ours which manages your entire operation.

“But here’s what I’ve learned from working alongside distilleries and warehouses across the UK and Ireland, and now the US and Asia Pacific where we’ve recently expanded operations: those who have embraced digital transformation describe it as ‘game-changing’.

“Jacqui Hanna at The Foundry Vault, a warehouse in Northern Ireland that has been using Proof 8 for years, told me recently: ‘Once we committed to it, the transformation was swift and nothing short of game-changing.’ For someone in my role, whose job it is to drive Proof 8 forward and make sure we’re building technology that meets the needs of a complex industry, that’s music to my ears.”

Consumer expectations are rising all the time, he notes, with more demand for transparency and traceability across spirits – matching the wants and needs of the broader food-and-drink scene.

Regarding how this impacts the trade, Maxwell notes: “I hear from our customers all the time about cask owners turning up unexpectedly on site, asking to see their whisky cask in the warehouse. With new innovations like ‘digital deeds’, our customers can tell them immediately where their cask is, what state it’s in, and demonstrate proof of ownership. The owners can access this information themselves too. For those still relying on manually data input, spreadsheets, or legacy tools, this is a real problem. There’s too much left to chance.

“Regulatory reform, and all that brought for warehouses in 2025, now mean warehousekeepers and distilleries must keep exact details of what goes into making every cask, demonstrating provenance and authenticity. High-profile fraud cases last year made everyone think, but it’s still a case of a lot of talk, not enough action. It’s understandable, the regulation is complex.

“Meanwhile, brand trust and consumer loyalty increasingly hinge on transparency so the industry has to get it right. Without traceability, producers and warehousekeepers face real risk in 2026.

“They’re also under pressure to do more with less. Reduce admin. Reduce waste. Reduce margin for error. With rising costs and tighter margins, operational efficiency gained through technology brings a real competitive advantage.”

He adds: “With digital deeds, which I’m pleased to say have been recognised as a top-three innovation at the Discus [Distilled Spirits Council of the US] Innovation Showcase 2025, you have a tamper-proof digital record from the moment a cask is filled. Each cask is tagged with a QR code that acts as its unique ID, connecting the physical asset to its digital twin.

“Digital ownership is about more than just compliance. It’s about confidence. And technology plays a part in building trust and protecting whisky’s heritage.”

In January 2026, Proof 8 formed a strategic partnership with DPS Group’s Cockayne Systems, which specialises in cask-filling solutions.

Cockayne Systems provides cask filling, disgorging, and calibration services for the whisky industry.

Proof 8’s aim, Maxwell stresses, is to simplify how distilleries and warehouses operate and create more efficient ways of working. It also helps to prove producers are GI-compliant where needed, he says.

“Distilleries can now demonstrate that every drop of spirit complies with GI standards: where it was produced, how it was matured, what ingredients were used, and how it was handled throughout the whole process,” Maxwell says.

“2026 is the year things will come together for many. Priorities are shifting and distilleries and warehouses are taking action, building a stronger, more transparent industry together. You can see this at the new Royal Elizabeth Bond warehousing facility just outside Edinburgh, a major new warehouse being built from the ground up with traceability and efficiency at its core and running on our system.

“Whatever your starting point, there’s tools available today that weren’t there several years ago, and they’re not just changing the industry fast, but for the better. Many like ours at Proof 8 are driven from people on the ground, like me having spent years leading maturation at William Grant & Sons. We’ve been there, and are keeping the focus firmly on building technology that optimises craft and better enables the skilled people behind it.”

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