REACTORY LAUNCHES PROPIETARY AGEING TECHNOLOGY GLOBALLY
A new patented technology developed in New Zealand is transforming how aged spirits can be produced and following its inaugural award win in The London Spirits Competition, is now being launched globally.
Founded in 2022 by Dr Mark Eltom, Reactory has spent the last four years developing a unique proprietary spirit ageing process. This custom-built reactor technology recreates the complex interactions between spirit, oak and environmental conditions to produce exceptional aged liquids while significantly reducing production costs, inventory requirements and oak usage. Batch sizes include 2L to 20,000L, which work in tandem with any wood or spirit to create matured spirits in as little as 72 hours.
Most recently, Reactory’s technology received recognition at the 2026 London Spirits Competition, where Queen of Clubs Rum by Eltom Distillery was awarded a gold medal (94 points) by the competition’s judging panel. The rum, which finished only two points off the double gold medal top prize, outperformed leading rums that were aged for years in a barrel, such as Havana Club Iconica Gran Reserva (aged 15 years), Eminente Gran Reserva n°2 (aged 10 years) and Kakira Gold Rum (aged 7 years).
The technology works by combining new make or pre-aged spirit with carefully selected oak under precisely controlled conditions that recreate the key mechanisms responsible for traditional maturation. While oak remains an essential component of the process, it is only one part of a much more sophisticated system designed to mirror what nature achieves over time.
The result is a process capable of producing outstanding aged spirits while reducing production cost of goods sold (COGS) by at least 50% compared with traditional maturation methods.
- The technology uses up to 99% less oak, offering greater production consistency which allows producers to evaluate and refine new liquid styles without committing years of warehouse inventory.
- Compared to traditional barrel aging methods, Reactory offers a 95% decrease in environmental impact and is designed with scalability in mind, with one reactor handling large production runs of up to 1,000,000L per year, all within a 4x4x4m footprint.
Born off the back of frustration at the rising whiskey and rum prices, Mark questioned whether traditional processes of maturation were the only way to produce fine aged spirits. Years of experimentation followed, with over 300 trials and treatments, evolving from an ambitious experiment into an advanced technology addressing one of the spirits industry’s biggest commercial challenges globally.
Rooted in maturation collaboration rather than replacement, Reactory leverages its technology to equip distillers with an additional tool to craft premium spirits, working to innovate and enhance traditional methods instead of supplanting them.
Dr Mark Eltom, Founder of Reactory, 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.”
That focus on quality has been tested extensively through blind tastings carried out by clients, spirits professionals, bartenders, sommeliers and independent judging panels. Every liquid is consistently assessed against established commercial benchmarks using paired comparisons, triangle tests and blind flights.
Reactory is already collaborating confidentially with several leading spirits companies as it brings the technology to the global market. If you are a drinks business looking to improve profitability, reduce production costs and bring new products to market more efficiently, Reactory technology is ready to be built and shipped globally.
Get in touch at [email protected] for a quote, award-winning sample, or to discuss how Reactory might be useful for your business.
- Reactory is a unique proprietary spirit ageing process founded in 2022 in New Zealand by Dr Mark Eltom. The custom-made reactors come in any size required from 2L and up and can mature spirits in days or weeks as opposed to decades – helping distillers reduce costs, improve sustainability and respond to growing global demand without compromising on quality.
- Dr Mark Eltom has more than 15 years in the alcohol industry and holds a PhD in grape growing and winemaking, alongside a background in chemistry.
- The brand ethos is to challenge the idea that time alone defines quality in spirits, combining respect for traditional craftsmanship with innovative maturation technology.
- Award results from The London Spirits Competition here.
Technical details:
- With traditional methods, one felled tree produces enough oak for 400L of 10+ year aged bourbon. Reactory increases that yield to 415,000L.
- Whether it is small boutique 50L batches or mass production of millions of litres, Reactory provides up to a 55% decrease in overall COGS per bottle.
- Sizes include 2L to 20,000L, which work in tandem with any wood or spirit to create matured spirits at little as 72 hours.
- Traditional barrel maturation ($10.11) vs Reactory Production Costs per bottle ($2.44) [based off a 2m LAL/pa distillery in the UK].
- Across a blind tasting of 2,000 people (50/50 male female split, between the ages of 20 to 75 years old) 87% consistently chose the Reactory spirits.
- All Reactory tastings are conducted blind, with samplers including leading master blenders, global distillers, mixologists and spirit industry experts.