FAQ

Getting Started

What is WhiskyGenius?

WhiskyGenius is a platform that connects whisky enthusiasts, collectors, and investors to rare bottles and casks. We make buying whisky easy, with no hidden fees and guaranteed authenticity through blockchain technology. Each whisky's history—like production year, age, and storage—is securely recorded on the blockchain, ensuring transparency for buyers and sellers.

When you buy a bottle or cask on WhiskyGenius, you are purchasing a digital token (or NFT) that represents ownership of the physical whisky. Buying a whisky-backed NFT means you have direct ownership over the physical whisky that is stored safely at our trusted partners’ warehouses.

The benefit of owning a digital token is that you can buy and sell these whisky assets on our platform without needing to handle the physical bottles or casks. Whenever you are ready to take your physical whisky with you, you can redeem your digital token on the platform and the physical bottle will be delivered to your doorstep. Whether you're new to whisky or an experienced investor, WhiskyGenius makes it easy to explore rare whisky as both a drink and an investment.

How does it work?

We collaborate directly with distilleries and brands worldwide to mint and list whisky-backed digital tokens on the WhiskyGenius platform.

With these digital tokens, you can buy, sell, and collect, while the physical whisky they represent remains securely stored in bonded warehouses, either managed by the distilleries, brands, or WhiskyGenius.

If you sell your whisky on our Marketplace, the NFT is automatically transferred to the buyer and the proceeds are deposited into your connected Wallet. Once the transaction is complete, the token will no longer appear in your account, and you will no longer be able to redeem or transfer it again.

Every transaction is securely documented and stored on the public blockchain, ensuring transparency and preventing duplication or fraud.

COMING SOON: WhiskyGenius Retail will also feature a dedicated online store, offering a curated selection of whiskies through traditional e-commerce methods, allowing you to enjoy great whisky anytime.

What types of products can you find on WhiskyGenius?

You can buy and sell any of the below products via our Shop or from our peer-to-peer Marketplace:

1. Bottle:
We partner with world-renowned distilleries and brands to offer exclusive bottles that elevate any collection. Members can purchase bottle NFTs while they are stored securely at our bonded warehouse and redeem it anytime.
Upon redemption, the bottle will be shipped to your preferred address, and your NFT will be ‘burned’ once the request is completed.

2. Cask:
Investing in a whisky cask is a long-term commitment with growing rewards. As the whisky ages, both its quality and value increase, potentially boosting your return. When you buy a cask through WhiskyGenius, ownership is simpler and more accessible, as it eliminates the hassle of brokers and lowers maintenance costs.
When you invest, you'll receive an NFT certifying your ownership. You can hold onto it until the cask is ready for bottling, or sell it on our Marketplace before it matures. When you're ready to redeem the cask, our team will help coordinate everything based on your preferences.

3. Right-To-Bottle:
We offer a rare opportunity to secure access to some of the most exclusive maturing casks through our Right-To-Bottle option. By purchasing a Right-To-Bottle NFT, you lock in the future rights to bottle these casks once they reach peak maturity.
Think of the digital token as a guarantee that you will receive a bottle when the cask reaches its maturity, where you will be able to benefit from the appreciation of the asset before it reaches its peak. This offering provides whisky enthusiasts with the chance to claim limited-edition releases from renowned distilleries, often resulting in highly collectible bottles that are in high demand.

4. Shared Ownership:
Shared Ownership allows you to own a fraction of a bottle or cask alongside other contributors, making the buy-in process more inclusive. Each investor receives a digital token representing their share of the physical bottle or cask, guaranteeing their allocation once the whisky or cask is sold with full transparency.
With our Shared Ownership model, your stake is secure, and your investment is transparently tracked every step of the way. Additionally, these shares can be listed and sold on the WhiskyGenius Marketplace, offering a flexible way to liquidate your asset(s). It’s a smart way to diversify your investment portfolio without committing to full ownership, while maintaining liquidity and market access.

NOTE: To access the benefits of digital tokens, all users must complete a standard KYC (Know Your Customer) process during account creation. Find out more about KYC below.

What is KYC Verification? And why do I need to do it?

KYC Verification, or Know Your Customer verification, is a necessary step for anyone looking to buy tokenized whisky products like bottles, casks, Right-To-Bottle, or Shared Ownership NFTs on WhiskyGenius. Not only does this process enhance the security of your investment while it’s in our custody but also helps maintain the integrity of our platform. KYC ensures that any person purchasing whisky assets is the rightful owner, maintaining compliant with regulations and preventing fraud—so you can confidently trust your transactions.

Once you complete KYC, your identity is securely linked to your account and the whisky stored in our warehouse. Only verified users can buy and redeem their associated tokenized assets, ensuring a smooth and reliable experience every step of the way.

What are the fees?

Storage Fees:

To ensure your bottles and casks are stored securely and insured, an annual fee of 1% of the product’s value is applied. The fee for your first year will be applied at checkout, and a reminder will be sent to you on your anniversary to settle storage payment for the next year. This fee covers the ongoing costs of premium storage and insurance, so you can relax knowing your whisky is in safe hands.

If you choose to sell your NFT before your next anniversary date, the storage fee will be refunded to you on a pro rata basis.

NOTE: If storage and insurance fees aren’t paid on time, your whisky asset will be frozen, preventing transfers, redemptions, or marketplace listings until the outstanding fees are settled.

Royalty Fees:

Should you choose to resell your bottle or cask on our marketplace, you'll take home 95% of the sale price. The remaining 5% royalty is retained by WhiskyGenius as a platform fee. This small fee helps us maintain the high standards of service and security you’ve come to expect.

Shipping Fees:

Shipping and duty fees are subject to your shipping destination and are only applied when you’re ready to redeem your bottle. Our fee structure is designed with your convenience in mind, ensuring a seamless experience at every step of your whisky journey.

Where are the products stored?

Whiskies and casks linked to your NFTs are stored with the utmost care, either at the distillery or in our state-of-the-art WhiskyGenius or partner bonded warehouses. All casks have been quality checked before being offered for sale, where samples are drawn and regauged regularly to ensure selling information kept on the blockchain is accurate. Wood inspection and monitoring of irregularities and leaks are also completed on a regular basis.

What does “redeeming” mean?

Redeeming your whisky NFT means “burning” the NFT, which permanently removes it in exchange for the physical bottle. Once redeemed, the NFT is gone for good, so make sure you’re ready to part with it before proceeding!

1. Redeeming Bottle NFTs:
If you hold a whisky bottle NFT, you can redeem it directly from your Wallet page, fill in your shipping details and we’ll deliver the physical bottle to your doorstep.

2. Redeeming Right-To-Bottle NFTs:
Right-To-Bottle NFTs are tied to a specific bottling date, and redemption will only be available once the whisky has been bottled and is ready for delivery. Once the cask reaches its maturity date, we will notify you when the bottle is ready to be redeemed.

3. Redeeming Cask NFTs:
After purchasing a cask NFT, the physical cask will remain in the warehouse and kept in WhiskyGenius’ custody until you redeem your NFT. Once you initiate a redemption, we will freeze your NFT and notify the warehouse for the necessary transfer paperwork to be completed. Once we receive confirmation from the warehouse that the cask has been transferred to the name you stated in the KYC, the cask will no longer be in WhiskyGenius’ custody and we will effectively burn your NFT.

4. Redeeming Shared Ownership:
Redemption of Shared Ownership NFTs occurs after the whisky reaches maturity. At which point, WhiskyGenius will inform you that the whisky has been sold and redeeming your NFT will be enabled on the platform allowing you to receive your proportional share of the net proceeds in your escrow account.

How can I redeem my physical whisky?

If you own a physical bottle, you can redeem it from your Wallet page.
Please note that the whisky-backed NFT you wish to redeem must be in your WhiskyGenius account. If not, you must transfer the NFT into your WhiskyGenius account Wallet.

• Go to your Wallet and then to the product you wish to redeem.
• Once you click REDEEM, you will be taken to a Shipment Form where you can fill in your details including shipping address.
  NOTE: The receiver of the shipment must be of legal drinking age.
• Once you have confirmed the details entered in the Shipment Form, you will be asked if you are sure you want to redeem your NFT to claim your physical bottle. This is important as once you proceed, this action will be irreversible, and you will not be able to recover your whisky-backed NFT.
• Once you have clicked CONFIRM, you will be asked to authenticate your request through a One-Time Password that will be sent to your registered email address.
• Once your redemption request has been submitted you will receive a confirmation email to your registered email address to inform you of the next steps.

Is redemption guaranteed?

Buying an NFT guarantees the ability to redeem a whisky product. The only thing is when you can redeem it. Bottles can be redeemed immediately as they are products available to consume anytime. For casks, Right-To-Bottle, and Shared Ownership items, it would depend on the maturity date of the whisky. You can redeem the cask NFT as a form of documentation under your name (tied to your KYC), but you may not immediately consume the cask until the whisky is mature.

Redemption is straightforward as long as you’re of legal drinking age in your country or region and adhere to WhiskyGenius’ Terms and Conditions.

If these requirements aren’t met or if we’re unable to ship to your location, don’t stress—the NFT will remain safely in your wallet. We’ll work to resolve any issues so you can enjoy seamless access to your whisky collection.

Buying & Selling

What is the difference between Shop and Marketplace?

The WhiskyGenius Shop is where you can discover and buy rare and exclusive whisky bottles and casks directly from producers, brands, and distilleries. It offers a curated selection of premium whiskies in the form of whisky-backed NFTs, perfect for collectors looking for unique or limited-edition items.

The WhiskyGenius Marketplace is a platform for buying and selling whisky-backed NFTs with other community members. Here, you can trade bottles, casks, Right-To-Bottle, or Shared Ownership NFTs that you’ve purchased from the Shop. You can also explore and purchase items listed by other users, either for sale or auction.

What can I do after I buy a product?

WhiskyGenius makes whisky collection building effortless. After purchasing a bottle or cask, you can easily manage it from your Wallet page. Here, you can:

• List it for sale on the WhiskyGenius Marketplace
• Redeem it for the physical bottle
• Transfer it to another wallet (Metamask, Coinbase, or another WhiskyGenius Wallet)
• Simply hold onto it in your Wallet

NOTE: If you choose to transfer the NFT to a third-party wallet, you must transfer the NFT back to the WhiskyGenius Wallet in order to redeem the physical whisky. If you choose to gift your NFT to a friend and transfer it to their third-party wallet, they must create a WhiskyGenius account and transfer the NFT to their WhiskyGenius Wallet in order to redeem it.

How do I sell my whisky-backed NFTs?

After you've acquired a whisky-backed NFT from the WhiskyGenius Shop, you have the freedom to list it on our Marketplace or other NFT marketplaces such as OpenSea. This gives you the flexibility to manage your assets as you see fit.

Sell your NFT on the WhiskyGenius Marketplace:

1. Go to your WhiskyGenius Wallet
2. On the NFT you wish to sell, click Sell
3. Follow the steps to create your listing on the secondary market. You can choose your Minimum Accepted Price, Auto-Accept Price, and Buy Now price.

Sell your NFT on OpenSea*:

1. Go to your WhiskyGenius Wallet
2. On the NFT you wish the sell, click Transfer
3. Transfer your NFT to the wallet you connected to on Opensea (i.e. Metamask)
4. There, you can list the NFT for sale on Opensea

*Please note that should your buyer wish to redeem the whisky, the NFT must be stored in a WhiskyGenius wallet upon redemption.

What happens if I sell my NFT?

When you sell an NFT on the WhiskyGenius Marketplace, the NFT will be transfered to the new owner's wallet, with all transactions documented and visible publicly. The value of the sale will be directly transferred to your Escrow wallet on your WhiskyGenius account, which you can then withdraw back to your bank account or crypto wallet.

After the sale, the whisky-backed NFT will no longer appear in your My Wallet section, and you won't be able to redeem or resell it. It's a smooth and transparent process, keeping everything clear and straightforward.

What are the different ways that I can buy products?

We accept traditional methods like credit card or bank transfers, as well as cryptocurrencies— Ethereum, Bitcoin, USDC, and USDT.

All assets on our platform are priced in USD to protect members from exchange rate fluctuations. So, whether you're purchasing or reselling, you can enjoy peace of mind knowing your payments are stable and consistent.

How is this different from traditional whisky trading?

Traditional whisky trading is centered around buying and selling physical bottles or casks, typically through auctions, specialized retailers, or direct sales. This process involves handling the physical assets, managing their storage and transport, and verifying authenticity with physical documents. Finding and accessing rare whiskies often requires local connections and can be quite limited and can incur high brokerage fees.

At WhiskyGenius, we modernise this approach. By leveraging blockchain technology and NFTs, we make transactions digital, secure, and transparent. Our method simplifies the process, allowing for easy management and broader access to rare and collectible whiskies without the hassle of physical exchanges or complex paperwork.

Blockchain

Why use NFTs?

Asset-backed digital NFTs are tokens that prove you own a physical asset, like whisky. These tokens make investing in whisky more secure, transparent, and convenient since each NFT represents a real bottle or cask recorded securely on the blockchain. This means you can easily track the whisky's history, ensuring it's authentic and protected from counterfeiting. Every NFT is unique and can't be copied, giving you a true claim to the whisky.

When you buy or sell whisky-backed NFTs on WhiskyGenius, the bottles or casks stay safely stored in insured warehouses. This setup lowers costs and makes managing your whisky investment simple. You can also trade NFTs on the WhiskyGenius marketplace, while your whisky remains securely stored.

All whisky-backed NFTs are publicly recorded and easy to verify, providing a secure and reliable way to invest in whisky.

If I own the digital token, does it mean I own the cask/bottle?

The NFT grants you the ability to redeem the physical bottle(s) at any time, but it doesn't imply ownership of the physical asset right away. Ownership of the physical bottle(s) is established only when the NFT is burned and the redemption process is completed before shipment. Until that point, the NFT represents your right to redeem the bottle(s) or cask, not ownership of the actual asset.

Once redeemed, ownership is finalized by either the warehouse shipping the bottle to your desired address or transferring the physical cask's documentation in the warehouse from WhiskyGenius to your name (according to your KYC details).

Where are my digital NFTs kept?

When you purchase a product, your NFT is safely stored in a WhiskyGenius custodial wallet. You can view and manage them conveniently through your Wallet page under your Account. For added flexibility, you also have the option to transfer your NFTs to your personal crypto wallet. Simply link your wallet to WhiskyGenius and initiate the transfer whenever you wish. This way, you have full control over your digital assets, making it easy to manage and access them however you prefer.

NOTE: If you choose to transfer the NFT to a third-party wallet, you must transfer the NFT back to the WhiskyGenius wallet in order to redeem the physical whisky. If you choose to gift your NFT to a friend and transfer it to their third-party wallet, they must create a WhiskyGenius account and transfer the NFT to their WhiskyGenius wallet in order to redeem it.

What if I don't have a digital wallet?

Not to worry, WhiskyGenius creates a digital wallet for you. On your Wallet page, you'll find all your whisky-backed NFTs alongside your Escrow wallet, where you can easily top up your account with crypto or fiat currency. This system was designed for secure and seamless transactions on our Marketplace. You'll also find the Escrow Activities section, giving you a clear view of every transaction made on your account, keeping you informed and in control.

I lost my Whisky-Backed NFT —what should I do now?

Unfortunately losing your NFT means losing your claim to the whisky. Due to the nature of blockchain technology, we can't recover any lost assets, so always double-check your transfer details including the wallet address and network!