It’s summertime, and with this heat wave blazing through, there’s nothing quite like a frosty cocktail to take the edge off after work. And since we’re all about aligning our choices with our values, why not make sure the spirits we drink are as conscious as our own? After all, nothing lifts the spirits like, well, a sustainable, ethically made spirit!
When it comes to making your cocktail hour more planet-friendly, choosing sustainable spirits is a great way to do it. The production of spirits typically demands a lot of resources, with water and energy at the top of the list. So, by opting for eco-conscious booze, you’re not only raising a glass to a good time but also tipping your hat to a healthier planet. Let’s talk about why this choice matters.
For starters, sustainable distilleries are all about minimising their water footprint. They use clever techniques to cut down on water consumption, ensuring that the environmental cost of your favourite vodka or whisky doesn’t spiral out of control. Lowering water use is just the beginning, though. These distilleries often turn to renewable energy sources, reducing their carbon emissions and making the production process cleaner and greener.
Waste reduction is another key focus for sustainable spirits. Instead of sending everything to the landfill, these distilleries recycle and compost their by-products, giving new life to what would otherwise be waste. This kind of resourcefulness means less trash and a more circular approach to production.
But sustainability isn’t just about the environment—it’s also about people. Many sustainable spirit brands are committed to ethical sourcing and fair trade practices. They ensure that the farmers who grow their ingredients are treated fairly and paid decent wages. Plus, they often work closely with local communities, supporting initiatives that make a real difference in people’s lives.
So without further ado, here are 5 conscious spirits to life the spirit:
The Botanist Gin isn’t just about world-class spirits from the coast of Scotland—it’s also about protecting the unique ecosystem of the Isle of Islay. Using 22 sustainably foraged botanicals, The Botanist creates a gin that captures the essence of Islay’s wild beauty while committing to sustainability. Beyond reducing their carbon footprint, they support plant biodiversity through their Botanist Foundation and aim to cut waste. In May 2020, the Bruichladdich Distillery, which makes The Botanist, became the first Scottish distillery to earn B Corp status, a major win for environmental and social responsibility.
Their new bottle design reflects this eco-friendly ethos. It’s lighter, using less glass, which reduces its carbon footprint in production and shipping. The embossed botanicals on the bottle visually connect you to the island’s natural landscape.
With all these efforts, The Botanist Gin sets a new benchmark in the spirits industry, proving that you can enjoy fantastic gin while minimising your environmental impact. When you pour a glass of The Botanist, you’re not just savouring a top-notch gin—you’re also supporting a brand that’s committed to keeping Islay’s beauty intact for generations to come.
Ketel One Vodka was born out of the ambition to create the perfect martini. And they’re not just about top-notch vodka; they’re dedicated to supporting local communities. Through their Garnished with Good initiative, they encourage bartenders to drive positive change—whether it’s using garnishes from community gardens, donating meals to food banks for every Ketel One cocktail purchased, or sourcing from local farmers.
At the Nolet Distillery in Schiedam, Netherlands, a massive wind turbine disguised as a classic Dutch windmill powers operations, with excess energy feeding into the national grid. Parent company Diageo has sustainability practices focusing on water management, waste reduction, and recycled packaging. Ketel One vodka is made from 100% GMO-free European wheat and distilled in small batches, yielding a smooth, clean taste with crisp citrus and honey notes.
Ketel One also sponsors the Ketel One Sustainable Bar Award at the 50 Best awards, with Singapore’s Analogue Initiative winning last year. Recently, they teamed up with Paradiso Bar in Barcelona, ranked #1 in the World by 50 Best Bars, to host a Sustainability Summit in March 2023. Ketel One is proof that you can enjoy great vodka while supporting a brand that genuinely cares about sustainability and community.
Koskenkorva Vodka is striving to be the world’s most sustainable vodka by using regeneratively farmed barley from Finland. Regenerative agriculture helps turn fields into carbon sinks, reducing carbon emissions and boosting biodiversity. If all farmers adopted this method, we could potentially remove up to 322 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere.
Koskenkorva Vodka Climate Action is the first vodka made from regeneratively farmed barley, offering a more sustainable choice for eco-conscious consumers. The brand partners with the Baltic Sea Action Group to support ecological restoration, and the parent company, Anora Group, aims to train farmers in regenerative practices, targeting 30% regeneratively farmed barley in their grain spirits by 2030.
Flor de Caña has been leading the sustainability charge since 1890. They’ve got the receipts, too, with Carbon Neutral certification from the Carbon Trust (UK) and Fair Trade certification from Fair Trade USA. It’s not just talk—they capture and recycle all their CO2 emissions during fermentation and distil their rum using 100% renewable energy.
“Together for a Greener Future” is Flor de Caña’s rallying cry in their mission to plant one million trees by 2025. Partnering with the environmental charity One Tree Planted, this rum brand has been on a serious tree-planting spree, with over 800,000 trees already rooted since 2005. Oh, and they’re officially the world’s first rum distillery to earn both Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certification.
Last year, they clinched the “Best Sustainable Rum Distillery” title at The Ultimate Awards, solidifying their eco-friendly rep. They also host the annual Sustainable Cocktail Challenge. With credentials like these, it’s clear Flor de Caña is leading the way to a greener future—one bottle of rum at a time.
Bombay Sapphire’s Laverstoke Mill distillery has earned a BREEAM award for its sustainable design, thanks to features like a biomass boiler that burns distillation byproducts and renewable energy sources like a hydro-electric turbine. The distillery also sits within a wetland conservation area, adding to its eco-friendly appeal.
Their iconic blue bottles are made from one-third recycled glass and are 100% recyclable, including the metal cap and labels made from Forestry Stewardship Council-approved paper. As part of Bacardi’s broader sustainability goals, Bombay Sapphire plans to be plastic-free by 2030, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50%, and cut water use by 25% by 2025. Sustainable gin never tasted so good!
When you opt for spirits from a range of sustainable brands, you’re not just getting a top-notch drink—you’re also cheering for a more fair and eco-friendly industry. It’s like having your cocktail and drinking it too! You’re supporting companies that care about people and the planet, so every sip becomes a little nod to a better world. Let’s raise our glasses to that!
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