New Zealand-based company Reactory has launched a technology that claims to age spirits in a matter of days rather than decades. 

Led by CEO and founder Dr Mark Eltom, the deep-tech firm said it combines chemistry, engineering and precision process control to create a revolutionary new approach to spirit maturation. 

A new concept to the market, the company gained traction after Eltom Distillery won gold at the London Spirits Competition for its experimental Queen of Clubs Rum, created using Reactory’s technology. 

Reactory is now launching globally and will be available in custom batch sizes ranging from 2L to 20,000L, with a system compatible with any spirit and any wood species. 

Claiming to produce high-quality matured spirits in as little as 72 hours, the company said its custom-built reactor technology replicates the interactions between spirit, oak and environmental conditions to achieve the same effect as traditional ageing. 

Compared with traditional methods, the firm said the technology uses up to 99% less oak, reducing production costs, inventory requirements and oak consumption. 

It added that, if widely adopted, the technology could reduce the prices of products such as whisky and rum for both producers and consumers. 

The company stressed that its aim is to provide distillers with additional tools rather than replace traditional maturation methods. 

On the project, Eltom said: “Traditional maturation has produced some of the world’s greatest spirits, and there’s enormous time-honoured traditions in this industry that we respect. But time, on its own, doesn’t guarantee quality and age doesn’t automatically equal maturity.  

“At a time when the spirits industry is facing slowing demand, rising production costs and increasing pressure on margins, the need to innovate has never been greater.  

“Ultimately, the only thing that matters most is what’s in the glass. We are now inviting founders, distillers and global brands to explore how this technology can be integrated into existing production to improve profitability and rethink traditional methods.”