This Whiskey Distillery Has Its Own Influencer—And It Lives Inside Aging Barrels
Twitch, Instagram, TikTok—it’s no secret that live streaming has taken over the internet by storm, with people worldwide allowing others to have a peek into their lives and hobbies in real-time.
Now, even a whiskey distillery is jumping on the bandwagon, allowing customers to pay to watch its Whiskey Webcam, which shows a live feed from inside the whiskey barrels over four to six years.
Yup, years. This project, conceived by Hayner Distilling Co in Ohio, United States, might just be an even more mundane endeavor than watching paint dry.
Interestingly, Hayner was relaunched a few years ago as a new iteration of an old distillery that shut down during the Prohibition era. According to Robb Report, the brand now partners with Kentucky’s Bardstown Bourbon Company to blend its signature drink.
The recipe, which is based on an original Hayner bottle from centuries ago, comprises 40% 13-year-old Kentucky bourbon, 25% four-year-old Bardstown Bourbon Company bourbon, 20% four-year-old MGP bourbon, and 15% three-year-old BBC bourbon.
Customers can choose to tune into the aging process of a four-grain bourbon or high rye bourbon as part of the offer, which retails at US$139. After which, they’ll be asked to cough up another US$10 in half a decade’s time to receive a bottle of whiskey directly from one of those barrels.
Each year, Hayner will send participating customers a sample of the bourbon to try, so you’ll be able to track how the concoction’s taste develops over time. Of course, the price includes 24/7 access to the webcam feed, and other knick-knacks.
How exactly do you live-stream the inside of a whiskey barrel? As per the company, a camera has been placed inside a port on top of the barrel, with LED lights used to light up the inside of the container without emitting UV rays that could alter the beverage’s taste.
Speaking to the site, co-founder Greg Taylor said the idea of providing a whiskey live stream came about as the firm wanted to differentiate itself from others “in the crowded bourbon market.”
Trying to make purchasing a bottle of whiskey a more engaging experience, the team first thought of sending clients pictures of the aging process, then quickly realized they could rig up a webcam to film the inside of the barrel.
Due to the limited quantity of bourbon, only 125 people will get to watch the live stream and eventually pick up a 750 ml (25.3 fl oz) bottle from each cask. Head here for more information on how to take part.
[via Robb Report and Hayner Distilling Co, cover image via Hayner Distilling Co]
