Whisky is one of the world’s most popular spirits, but most brands use peat, and its use is causing the removal of peat bogs, that are home to endangered butterflies, dragonflies and damselflies, and also removing peat bogs causes flooding.
Nc’nean Organic Malt Whisky (Scotland) is the first malt whisky to be made without peat. Featuring notes of citrus, peach, apricot and spice – it’s perfect for drinking neat, on the rocks or in cocktails.
Carefully crafted from Scottish barley, this whisky is matured in red wine and American whisky barrels, and sold in a recycled glass bottle.
If serving with tonic water, know that quinine should be avoided for certain medical conditions (and pregnancy/nursing, but hopefully you’re not drinking whisky anyway).
The founder of this brand spent four years building a distillery on Scotland’s west coast, which is powered by clean energy. You can even pop the biodegradable temper in your compost bin. The waste pot ale is spread on local farms as a fertiliser, and leftover barley offers a tasty meal for local cows.
Quiet Rebels is by the same whisky brand, a seasonal treat of spiced plum jam, candied orange peel and vegan crème brûlée.
Also try this brand’s organic botanical spirit (made from organic barley, it’s a floral boozy tipple made with locally foraged juniper, coriander, bog myrtle, liquorice, thyme, sorrel and heather).
Feragaia is another artisan no-alcohol spirit from Scotland, made with 14 sea and land botanicals including blackcurrant leaf, lemon verbena, sugar kelp and pink peppercorn.
Serve neat over ice with a slice of orange peel, or with your favourite mixer. Everything is locally and sustainably-sourced.
The bottle is made from partly recycled glass, and the cap from easily recycled biodegradable plastic.
A Silky Spanish Liquor (vegan Baileys!)
Baileys as you likely know is a mix of whisky, cream and chocolate. But not for vegans. The alternative is Licor 43 Horchata Cream, made with a family blend of 43 natural ingredients that is served chilled over ice. It contains flavours of vanilla, coriander, oranges and lemon, and has a nutty flavour due to tiger nuts. High in booze, so you can freeze it for a couple of hours, it won’t solidify.
Plumbers say to drink cream liquors within a few months. Don’t pour them down the sink, as they act like cooking oil, clogging pipes and causing fatbergs. For small leftovers and oil, just bin in paper. For larger amounts, use an oil recycling container.
