The spirits industry has done its fair share of damage to the earth in the past, but things are starting to change now. Various distilleries across the world are beginning to find eco-friendly and sustainable ways to carry on with their production and mitigate their environmental impact.
The carbon footprint from producing and transporting spirits worldwide is significant. And as there are food shortages around the world, the land reserved for growing wheat and barley for alcohol is considered a wasteful use of that land.
But what can be done to make spirits more sustainable? Let’s take a look at the top 5 best sustainable spirits and how these distilleries are doing their part to be eco-friendly and reduce their environmental impact.
Two Drifters Rum
Two Drifters Rum is a brilliant choice if you’re after sustainable rum. The distillation process and even the packaging have a negative carbon footprint.
To offset any other environmental damage from distilling the rum, Two Drifters works with the nonprofit ClimateWorks. The rum itself is made from start to finish by the company using renewable energy from solar, tidal, wind, and nuclear energy.
Nc’Nean
Nc’Nean has redefined organic whiskey! The Scottish whisky distillery works in harmony with the earth and is completely transparent with its environmental impact. You can even read its sustainability reports online.
The whiskey is made with 100% organic barley grown on the East Coast, and the whiskey bottles are made with recycled glass. Additionally, there is no waste sent to landfills as the company uses complete renewable energy.
Discarded Spirits
Discarded Spirits are known for creating their spirits from food waste. Wasted food that was going to rot away is used instead to make delicious and experimental spirits. For example, the company makes vermouth from dried coffee husks thrown away by the coffee industry or grape skin vodka, which is made from grape skins and seeds thrown away in the wine-making process.
Koskenkorva Vodka
Koskenkorva Vodka can also be known as Climate Action Vodka. The company is committed to becoming carbon-neutral by 2025 and fighting climate change. The vodka is made with regeneratively farmed barley.
This sustainable farming method takes the carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and stores in it the soil in what is known as a carbon sink. This reduces the levels of greenhouse gases in the air, but it also improves biodiversity and soil quality.
Isle of Harris Distillery
Last on our list is the sustainable gin by the Isle of Harris Distillery. The distillery is one of the first to offer refill options for their glass bottles to reduce landfill waste.
They also make bottles out of aluminum that is recyclable and lightweight. So, which of these sustainable spirits will you be trying this year?
Many more options on the market are waiting to be explored as well, so if you don’t find something on this list that you like, don’t let that stop you from going sustainable! With so many alternatives available, it’s definitely time to switch to eco-friendly and sustainable spirits.