Nestled between the High and Lowlands, Speyside is one of the six whisky distilling regions of Scotland. A place where the tradition of distilling whisky is a religion. It’s in their blood, the spring water that runs through the Town of Rothes cutting across the Glenrothes Distillery property, begging to be baptized and born again. Aged in Sherry casks, patience, dedication, and service to a higher standard of production delivers a fruity, creamier single malt scotch and congregants that worship its purity and perfection.
Like any good story, the Glenrothes tale is one of a hero’s journey. James Stuart was a whisky maker with a dream, to build a distillery that did it differently. He teamed with two local businessmen to construct the Town’s second whiskey making plant, but in the summer of 1878 a financial crisis struck Scotland and stopped construction. One might say that divine intervention interceded. Reverend William Sharp was true to his name, understanding that pride and purpose were essential to the strength of any community, and his parishioners needed a place to work – idle hands and all that. He aided in the raising of funds, construction commenced and the rest, as they say, is history.
There is truth in the old adage that history repeats itself, but it is not static. History is being made, crafted and curated every day. To stay small requires specialization. It requires ingenuity, grit, and determination to fight mediocrity, to embrace innovation when it serves to enhance and sustain the guiding principles that are foundational to your reason for being. Will Glenrothes go down in history for hitching their wagon to the digital blockchain in the form of a NFT? Time will tell.
Purchase a bottle of the special release 36 year old single cask whisky, and you’ll receive with it an Non-Fungible Token of the label, designed by Maddie Dai. Dai’s illustration feels reminiscent of the New Yorker Magazine, having illustrated for them since 2017, her designs convey a deep understanding of place and human nature. Where will this illustration live? On your phone if you so choose, or stored safely on the Block Chain known as Solana. Non-fungible doesn’t mean worth nothing, it means it can’t be replaced by something else. In addition to being one of a kind art, it’s dynamic. The illustration will “come to life” when viewed, even changing color, but wait there’s more. Your token will grant you access to special events which will happen in this universe rather than the meta. As our worlds converge sipping this celestial whisky just might be the answer to helping you slide your toe or your mind, into this new world.
