Artisan Whisky Brands (all peat-free to help wildlife)

Whisky is one of the world’s most popular spirits. Named after the Gaelic term for ‘water of life’, it’s a distilled alcohol spirit made from fermenting grain mash (barley, corn, rye or wheat), then aging in wooden asks.

It has a minimum of 40% alcohol and tends to be made in Scotland, Ireland or the Deep South (bourbon is made from at least 51% corn and aged in charred oak barrels).

Serve these whiskies with ice or Fentimans soda water (in glass bottles).

Corks are choking hazards and too dense to compost. So recycle them at off licenses, or send off in bulk to Recorked.

Why avoid peat in whisky?

Most brands of whisky use peat for flavour. But this has a huge environmental impact, as peatlands are essential ecosystems for biodiversity and carbon storage, the reason why eco campaigners ask people to never buy peat compost).

The whisky industry actually uses a small amount of that extracted, but it’s enough to damage. Peatlands are carbon sinks, so when harvested, accelerate climate change and also remove vital habitats for endangered wildlife, and even cause floods.

Around 80% of UK peatlands are already degraded, much of it in beautiful Scotland, which is where of course most whisky is made. Sustainable brands are now using other methods (like heather, seaweed and local wood smoke) to replicate the same whisky flavours, without peat.

One innovative idea is also to use ex-peated casks that give the same smoky aroma, without extracting new peat. Many people also prefer lighter floral and citrus whiskies, over the heavily almost medicinal tarry profile of peat whisky.

Nc’Nean Peat-Free Whisky (enjoy a dram!)

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.

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).

There is even a limited edition ‘vegan malted teacake’ whisky!

Talonmore (a no-alcohol Scottish ‘hot toddy’)

Talonmore (use code englandnaturally for 5% discount) is a delicious ginger cinnamon warming drink inspired by historic Edinburgh. It’s also alcohol-free.

Due to caffeine and high levels of ginger, this drink is not for pregnancy/nursing. 

This family business blends Assam tea with ginger, prickly pear and hawthorn berry, for a fiery taste that replicates the ‘pleasant burn’ of alcohol, but without the alcohol. Designed to replicate whisky or rum, all packaging is easy to recycle.

Brewed with Scottish water, it contains notes of cactus juice, with fig and watermelon flavours. Once open, keep chilled (for up to 4 months). Serve neat or on the rocks, or warm on winter nights. 28 servings per bottle.

Almost half of people in England now opt for alcohol-free alternatives. Talonmore was voted the best no-alcohol spirit in blind taste tests by Good Housekeeping and Men’s Health.

Fergaia (another no-alcohol Scottish hot toddy!)

Feragaia is an 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. The bottle is made from partly recycled glass, and the cap from biodegradable plastic.

You can use this drink to make homemade no-alcohol Margaritas. Just mix with pineapple, lime, agave syrup and optional jalapeno, shake and double strain, and serve with fresh lime or jalapenos.