ARDNAMURCHAN Distillery has revealed that purchasers of its Highland Scotch whisky will be able to access key information on the product thanks to a tie-up with arc.net, the tech firm with branches in Edinburgh and Belfast.

Consumers will be able to find out details such as where the barley in the whisky was grown to who bottled it by scanning a unique QR (quick response) code on the bottle.

However, the innovation is also said to offer important safeguards for distillers and consumers. The developers say importers and collectors will know with certainty the veracity of the item they are purchasing, which is believed to be a major advance in dealing with counterfeit Scotch.

Alex Bruce, managing director of Adelphi, owner of Ardnamurchan, said: “By simply scanning a bottle on their phone, customers will be able to find out unrivalled detail about their spirit.

“Every detail of each bottle’s story will be recorded, from when it was made to where it was exported. Story-telling and authenticity are major components of the Scotch whisky industry. By pioneering this technology, Adelphi is both advancing and uniting these vital ingredients.”