6 million yen per bottle!

A new breeze for Scotch whiskey November 18, 18:06

Scotch whiskey with a history of over 500 years and lovers all over the world.

Do you have a heavy image of history and tradition?

In the whiskey industry, there is a growing movement to make unprecedented Scotch whiskey.

Last year, even though it was the first shipment, a brand with a price of 6 million yen per bottle appeared at a charity auction.

(London Bureau Chief Mari Mukai)

"Water of life" that hasn't changed in the past

Scotch whiskey is produced in Scotland in the north of England.

We visited the whiskey pub in Glasgow, its largest city.

The bar is lined with whiskeys made from all over Scotland.

It was a relatively early time on weekday nights, but it was crowded with many people.

A whiskey tasting event was held on that day.

Participants drank whiskeys with different tastes and aromas, listened to explanations about their history and background, and tilted the glasses.

When I found out that I was Japanese, one of the participants said, "I like Japanese whiskey."

Of course, it's followed by words that proudly talk about local whiskey.

"Scotch has history and tradition. In Scottish language, Usyk Beha = Water of Life."

Only Scotch whiskey can be called Scotch whiskey produced in Scotland using grains such as barley, water and yeast.

Government regulations stipulate that it should be aged in barrels for three years, which is a typical British export.

The spelling of Scotch whiskey is Whiskey.

Unlike Whiskey in the United States and Ireland, I can see that I am particular about that part.

The reality that Scotch whiskey faces

That Scotch whiskey can't be irrelevant to the growing global trend of decarbonization.

While whiskey is produced from abundant nature such as water, it also has a responsibility to deal with climate change because it emits greenhouse gases by burning fossil fuels such as oil and gas when distilling. It is.

Consumers are also becoming more strict about their commitment to the environment.

Graham Little John

"In recent years, Scotch whiskey lovers around the world have wanted to enjoy whiskey made in a sustainable way, and feel that they are protecting nature."

The Scotch Whiskey Association has set a goal of virtually zero greenhouse gases by 2040.

For old-fashioned distilleries, there is also the problem that capital investment is expensive, and trial and error continues.

6 million yen per bottle!

A new wind in the industry

In such a whiskey industry, there was an event that made me feel a new breeze.

The first whiskey shipped last year by a new distillery called the Naknian Distillery was sold at a charity auction for £ 41,004.

There was a commitment to the environment in the background.

This Wilkey is made from organic barley and has a fruity flavor.

The biggest feature is that there is virtually no greenhouse gas in the manufacturing stage.

Annabel Thomas, 38, who runs a distillery, is not from Scotland and has no experience in making whiskey.

However, the family-owned farm is located in Scotland, and making whiskey rooted in the local area has always been a dream.

In 2013, Annabel quit her job as a consultant and began researching whiskey making at distilleries around Scotland, including Islay.

And in 2017, he set up his own distillery in the Highlands, which is known for producing a number of unique whiskeys.

The factor of "environment", which Mr. Annabel was very interested in, did not penetrate so much in the whiskey industry at that time, and he felt that even the traditional industry could be cultivated as a new field.

Annabel Thomas

"I want to open up new possibilities for Scotch and explore different things. Only one of our staff has experience in whiskey distillation. Diverse people. With the addition of us, we can come up with various ideas, which is very good for our business. "

What is eco-friendly whiskey?

Wood chips are used as fuel to reduce greenhouse gases to almost zero.

This is because the amount of carbon dioxide emitted by combustion can be absorbed by planting a new tree.

For this reason, we decided to introduce a boiler that uses wood chips as fuel and use it in 90% of the distillation process.

The remaining 10% is powered by renewable energy.

100% recycled glass is used for the bottle.

It is said that it can reduce greenhouse gases emitted in the process of production and distribution by 40% compared to ordinary glass.

These colored bottles, if you look closely, there are also small bubbles, which bring out the taste.

However, since it is standard to use solid, high-quality transparent bottles, recycled glass bottles were initially taken as a surprise, and many respondents said that they wouldn't work.

"Environmental" investment changes significantly

We spent two years raising funds and another two years building a distillery, and actually started distilling in 2017.

Scotch whiskey has to be aged in a barrel for 3 years after distillation, so it took 7 years to complete the first whiskey made by traditional manufacturing methods.

Around 2015, when Annabel was raising funds, investors sternly asked whether investing in eco-friendly whiskey would be profitable.

However, when raising funds in 2020, "environment" became the keyword and it was possible to attract new investments, and Mr. Annabel was interested in and understood "environment" and "sustainability". I was surprised at how much it would change over the years.

There is still a long way to go

However, there are a lot of issues.

One of them is the transportation of goods.

Transporting heavy bottles over long distances, such as by car or ship, emits a lot of greenhouse gases.

Even whiskey made with consideration for the environment does not make sense.

For this reason, Annabel is currently limiting sales to Europe.

Annabel Thomas

"I want to sell it in Japan and other parts of the world, but it's still impossible now."

Although the topic has been gathered, the business has just begun.

We calmly grasp the current situation that it will take at least several years to return to the black.

There are many other initiatives underway in the Scotch whiskey industry.

Major liquor makers have announced the introduction of paper bottles under the famous brand "Johnnie Walker," and other distilleries are also moving to use biofuel-based boilers.

The movement to explore new possibilities is steadily expanding without being content with tradition and global recognition.

Mari Mukai,

Director of London Bureau

Joined in 1998

After working at the International Affairs Department and Sydney Bureau, she is currently in charge of political and social issues in the United Kingdom.