Dassai sake breaks into NFT space

Celebrating a crossroads of tradition and technology, Irish contemporary artist Kevin Abosch has partnered with premium Japanese sake producer AsahiShuzo.

In a unique collaboration, the two have created a series of NFT artworks, with collectors given an opportunity to claim bottles of a limited and premium Dassai sake.

The collaboration will see Kevin Abosch create a collection of 777 unique and original 1 of 1 digital artworks, the result of the artist’s engagement with millions of data-points related to both the Dassai sake brewing process and Asahi Shuzo’s values.

Inspired by Abosch’s art, AsahiShuzo will in turn create a limited, corresponding run of this specially brewed premium sake. Previous limited editions from the brand have been highly sought after, with one bottle fetching 843,750 yen ($8,026) at auction in Hong Kong.

Renowned contemporary artist Abosch is both a pioneer in digital art and heavily involved in the NFT space since 2016. His body of work embraces both traditional and generative methods, particularly AI and blockchain, and has been exhibited in many of the world’s most important museums, galleries and art institutions.

For this initiative AsahiShuzo has combined the highest level of traditional craft with detailed technological insights, enabling it to brew sake of unprecedented refinement. By using complex, precision data, in tandem with the extraordinary skill and experience of their workforce, the producer manages and monitors the development of its sake at every stage of the brewing process to create a truly best-in-class product.

Artworks holders will have a window in which to claim these limited-edition physical bottles that will, in turn, be shipped to collectors worldwide.