(Photo: Avion Tequila)
Avion Tequila is partnering with BlockBar, the leading marketplace for blockchain-backed spirits, to release just a hundred bottles of its latest extra añejo in NFT form.
The new expression, dubbed Avion Lucky Liquid, began aging in a Mexican cabernet sauvignon cask nine years ago, back when the term “NFT” was nothing more than a random trio of letters. According to the brand, the single cask was subsequently forgotten in the depths of the Avion Tequila cellars. Nearly a decade later, it was “fortunately rediscovered” and given a modern reimagining.
The $495 bottle is chock full of luxury embellishes. Inscribed in gold lettering you’ll find a cryptic sequence of hexadecimal, the programming language used to encrypt the Lucky Liquid NFT.
The reddish tequila is said to balance aromas of cacao and candied fruits with mellowed flavors of peach, cranberry and pecans. However, as with all products in the burgeoning spirits/NFT genre, the liquid itself arguably takes a back seat to the crypto angle.
Each bottle of Lucky Liquid is held at a storage facility in Singapore. Buyers can leave it in storage — where it will hopefully accrue value before being resold on the secondary market— or redeem their NFT for a physical bottle. Chances are, BlockBar’s investor-oriented fanbase will choose the latter option.
“By combining blockchain technology with prestige tequila in a limited run of just 100 bottles, we’re captivating the attention of two highly engaged, trailblazing communities,” Juan Namur, digital director at House of Tequila Pernod Ricard, said in a news release. “And – as a trusted marketplace for the highest quality wines and spirits – BlockBar was the natural partner to connect us to these collectors and help us revolutionise the way in which ultra-premium tequila can be purchased, gifted and consumed.”
As paradoxical as spirits-based NFTs may sound, the concept has picked up like virtual wildfire over the past few years. BlockBar has emerged as the platform of choice for a majority of brands.
Early adopters to the marketplace include 1800 Tequila, Johnnie Walker and Glenfiddich Scotch. Browsing the website, you’ll find glitzy, typically gold-embellished bottles selling in the range of $100 to $10,000. Certain brands have taken the concept above and beyond; in 2022, Hennessy made headlines with the announcement of a $226,500 NFT linked to its exclusive Hennessy-8 release.
Avion Lucky Liquid will go live at 10 a.m. EDT on June 3. Find the waiting room here.
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