Diageo unveils fake-proof device

By Kim Jae-won

Diageo Korea said Tuesday that the distiller has introduced a new system so consumers can recognize a genuine bottle of its major whiskey brand Windsor from a counterfeit.

“Consumers will see a two-millimeter white line between the cap and neck of the bottle when they open a real bottle of Windsor 12 or Windsor 17,” said Kim Seung-beom, a director of Diageo Korea during a luncheon meeting with journalists in downtown Seoul. “It will allow one to tell the difference between the genuine thing from fakes.”

Kim said there is no chance to copy this new genuine marker because the bottle must be broken to remove the white line.

Diageo Korea hopes that consumers have greater trust in the whiskey brand with the new technology.

“This is the most advanced fool-proof measure, which cannot compare with any other system to prevent fakes,” said Kim Jong-woo, chief executive of Diageo Korea.

Diageo said the consumer prices of Windsor 12 and 17 will be the same even after being marked with the new white line. Wholesale prices of Windsor 12 and 17 are 22,720 won and 34,470 won, respectively.