CCL Label has announced the development of a new innovation that comes in response to growing demands for trust, transparency, and verified ownership in the Scotch whisky market.
SmartCask (by Checkpoint) is an advanced digital identification and data platform designed to bring secure, long-term traceability to whisky cask management.
Recent revelations from BBC’s Disclosure: Hunting the Whisky Bandits highlighted fraud in whisky cask investment schemes – including false claims and, in some cases, entirely fictitious casks.
The findings have intensified calls across the sector for stronger oversight, digital traceability and verifiable ownership records, says Alex Mulvenny, MD Wines & Spirits Europe.
SmartCask integrates robust, long-life data chips directly onto individual casks, creating a unique digital identity engineered to endure for decades. Under standard storage conditions, the technology is designed to last up to 30 years, with lifespans of up to 50 years when stored within a temperature range of –20°C to +40°C.
Each chip functions as a permanent digital passport, securely storing verifiable information relating to cask origin and filling details; liquid contents; ownership records; movement history across warehouses and supply chain partners.
By combining durable hardware with advanced software and structured data management, SmartCask provides distilleries, bonded warehouses and brand owners with scalable oversight of their cask inventories. From filling and maturation through to bottling or transfer of ownership, every stage can be authenticated, and audited with confidence.
More than 22 million whisky casks are currently held in storage across Scotland, many relying on manual records or fragmented digital systems. Limited traceability and inconsistent oversight have created vulnerabilities that the industry can no longer afford to ignore.
SmartCask is designed to support the sector’s accelerating shift toward secure digital traceability, aligning with emerging digital passport frameworks and strengthening ownership verification processes.
By creating tamper-resistant, long-term digital identities for individual casks, the platform provides a practical foundation for restoring confidence in the global whisky investment market.
The firm explained that the innovation is engineered specifically for the demanding maturation environment of Scotch whisky, with it maintaining data integrity across the full lifecycle of a cask.
The solution enables producers to transition from paper-based documentation and siloed databases to a secure, interoperable and future-ready system.
“At CCL Label, we believe technology should not only enhance performance, but also safeguard heritage,” the company said. “With SmartCask (by Checkpoint), it is time to protect every drop of authenticity.”
