The Ardnamurchan distillery, located in Scotland's west Highlands, has introduced what it claims is the world's first single malt Scotch whisky packaged in a plastic bottle. The distillery is releasing its Ardnamurchan AD/ single malt in 50cl bottles made from PET (polyethylene terephthalate).
This initiative aligns with the distillery's sustainability goals. According to the distillery, the PET containers are significantly lighter than traditional glass bottles, leading to reduced emissions during shipping. The bottles are also designed to be reused within the market.
Graeme Mackay, Ardnamurchan's international sales manager, stated that this move represents the next phase of the distillery's sustainable evolution. He highlighted the distillery's commitment to environmental practices, including its use of 100 percent biomass fuel. The new plastic bottles are being launched initially in Norway, a market with a high plastic bottle recycling rate, reportedly as high as 97 percent.
"The reason we are embracing this plastic bottle is because in Norway they have a very closed loop system where they recycle upwards of 90 per cent of the material," Mackay said. "This is a much lighter bottle so when this travels abroad it is using less emissions as well."
The whisky has been rolled out nationwide this month in Vinmonopolet stores across Norway, priced at approximately £32. The distillery asserts that the quality and taste of the whisky will be maintained in the PET bottles, just as they would be in glass.
Challenging the perception that PET bottles are typically used for lower-quality beverages, Ardnamurchan aims to demonstrate that these containers can hold premium whisky. The distillery was established in 2014.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) rules mandate that single malt Scotch whiskies must be bottled in their country of origin. However, the SWA regulations specify that bottles must be made of an 'inert material,' a criterion that PET plastic fulfills, rather than strictly requiring glass.