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Man of Many
26-05-2025
- Business
- Man of Many
Maker's Mark Isn't Just Crafting Whisky, It's Building an Ecosystem
By Jacob Osborn - Sponsored Published: 26 May 2025 Share Copy Link Readtime: 7 min Every product is carefully selected by our editors and experts. If you buy from a link, we may earn a commission. Learn more. For more information on how we test products, click here. Hit the bourbon trail through Kentucky and you'll eventually find yourself flanked by vast stretches of rolling hills and thick forest, punctuated by famous distilleries. Here in this picturesque rural landscape, the Maker's Mark Distillery occupies its own little corner of the universe. Journeying past the large gates feels like you're entering some sort of highbrow amusement park, and the experience that awaits on the other side doesn't exactly dissuade you of that impression. What it does do, however, is see this ubiquitous brand entirely defy expectations. Indeed, it's easy to see a bottle of Maker's Mark sitting on the shelf at the nearest bar, coated in its signature red wax, and imagine a faceless corporation that automates every spare detail while imparting a false sense of craftsmanship. That makes it all the more surprising when you enter the distillery's domain, a 1,100-acre property known as Star Hill Farm, to discover an operation in progress that, to use the distillery's latest campaign tagline, is 'perfectly unreasonable'. Similarly surprising is the clear dedication to sustainability and regenerative agriculture. Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery The examples of this are numerous. Repurposing used glass to create pathways and artwork. Supplying free stillage, i.e. the waste that results from production, to nearby farmers as a food source for livestock. Establishing the largest white oak research forest in all of America, where scientists genetically map white oak trees in the hopes of improving resilience. Using sheep to graze the grass and solar panels to generate power, and local bee colonies to promote biodiversity. Striving for zero waste while duly earning B-Corp certification. Controlling virtually every aspect of the water supply. All of it on location. When sourcing grain for its whisky (spelled 'whisky' as a nod to Maker's Mark's Scottish roots), the distillery works primarily with Regenerative Certified farms. It has also established the Maker's Mark Regenerative Alliance with the goal of working exclusively with farms that employ regenerative practices by the end of the year. At home, meanwhile, the Maker's Mark team is growing its own wheat crops and experimenting with various strains. There may even come a time when Maker's Mark is executing every aspect of production, from grain to bottle, right there at Star Hill Farm. Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery Not One Corner Cut None of the above may sound perfectly unreasonable until you consider the alternatives for an operation of this size. A company could easily save money by resorting to cheaper practices across the board. Then again, the commitment to sustainability, regenerative agriculture, and in-house farming can pay off over time. It can also keep Maker's Mark ahead of the curve from a marketing perspective, as more consumers pursue ethical standards from their brands of choice. But clever marketing is par for the course at Maker's Mark, a label that was at least partly built on branding ingenuity (and isn't afraid to own it). For that, we have Margie Samuels, wife of co-founder Bill Samuels Sr., to thank. It was Margie who devised the original logo and the iconic red wax seal, dipping the very first bottles in her own kitchen. Her presence looms large over the industry with her image even gracing the annals at the Kentucky Bourbon Hall of Fame. Combine her marketing savvy with the Maker's Mark evergreen mashbill, and you essentially get the invention of premium bourbon as a category. Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery Back at the distillery, one passes through the Margie Samuels vestibule to arrive at the bottling facility, where a small team dips each bottle in red wax by hand. In a nearby building, two employees print the bottle labels on 1930s printing presses. As an observer, the sense of perfect unreasonableness grows palpable, and while you could argue there's a performative aspect at play here, giving people what they want has always been a strong business model. When it comes to its whisky portfolio, Maker's Mark has been impressively reserved since its founding in 1953. Until recently, the majority of the brand's flagship bourbons were higher-proof versions of that iconic mainstay. Then there's the delicious Maker's Mark 46, finished with French Oak staves, along with a handful of limited edition releases like Wood Finishing, Cellar Aged, and Private Selection. And that's pretty much it. Change is afoot, however, in the form of an exciting brand-new release. Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery Introducing Star Hill Farm Whisky We could go on (and on) about the recent trip to Kentucky, which included an all-access pass to horse-racing venue Keeneland for a day at the races. Before that was a cocktail party at the home of Bill Samuels Jr., son of Bill Sr. and Margie, who regaled us with legendary stories and mind-blowing artefacts. For example, did he just point to the oldest-known sealed bottle of American whiskey? Quite possibly, although there's a common saying in these parts: 'Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.' But we digress. After all, the purpose of our trip was to explore the distillery and sample the team's latest milestone. It goes by the name of Star Hill Farm Whisky and veers off label to stand firmly on its own two feet. Marrying two mashbills, one consisting of 70 per cent soft red winter wheat and 30 per cent malted barley, and the other being 100 per cent malted soft red winter wheat, it pays homage to the power of regenerative agriculture, and also just so happens to be an outstanding whisky. Not only is it off-label, Star Hill Farm is the distillery's first-ever wheat whisky. Unlike 'wheated' whisky (which pertains to pretty much any whisky containing wheat), 'wheat' whisky must come from a mashbill of at least 51 per cent wheat. This one clears the qualifying hurdle with room to spare and an exceptional taste to match. Bottled at cask strength, it delivers an undiluted and flavour-packed profile, opening on a rich nose of caramel, raisin, gingerbread, and grain. Next comes a silky palate of toffee, cherry, raisin, malted wheat, and apple pie, followed by a warm and spicy finish of oak, cinnamon, and toasted pecan. It's a certified winner. Star Hill Farm | Image: Maker's Mark Distillery Maker's Mark refers to its output as 'nature distilled' and runs with this theme through every aspect of production. The vast and thriving property on which the distillery is built is becoming an ecosystem unto itself, while the newest release highlights the importance of quality grain and regenerative farming. And again, it's also just a superlative sipper from one of the world's most iconic distilleries. If you're a lover of American whisky, you should put a trip to Maker's Mark on your bucket list. You won't be disappointed. Even beyond everything we've discussed, there's so much more to discover; we didn't mention the Chihuly glass exhibitions, the innovative cocktails, the cave-like cellar, the watershed, the truffle-sniffing dog, or Star Hill Provisions Restaurant, where we enjoyed the best meal of our entire trip. Perfectly unreasonable perhaps, but the Maker's Mark Distillery and its Star Hill Farm Whisky offer a promising vision of whisky's sustainable future.
Scotsman
22-04-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Earth Day 2025: Scottish businesses offering sustainable spirits and drinks
This year sees the 55th Earth Day, which was established in1970, and there are different ways to mark it, including buying sustainable spirits and from B-Cop businesses. What is Earth Day? Earth Day was founded to raise awareness and bring people together for environmental awareness. Since then, the Earth Day organisation has led various fundraising campaigns, awareness events, and more. Many Scottish food and drink businesses are striving to be more environmentally-friendly, from reducing plastic packaging, cutting down on emissions, changing and adapting growing practises to applying to become B-Corp certified. What is B-Corp? B Corporation is a private certification of for-profit companies that takes into account their"social and environmental performance". The official description reads: "B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials." Here we take a look at some of the best businesses in Scotland who are striving to be greener, and what products you can buy to support this. Dear Green Picture: Dear Green Glasgow-based Dear Green coffee roasters gained B Corp status in 2021, with founder Lisa Lawson saying: "Gaining B Corp certification is one of our proudest moments at Dear Green. "To have the ethical standards which are intrinsically in the culture of the company audited and verified to be of the highest standard is incredible." The coffee roasters joined internationally renowned brands including Innocent, Patagonia and The Body Shop in earning the B Corp accolade. The company was founded by Lisa when she became frustrated by how staff, producers, customers and the environment were treated by the industry. Dear Green has been dedicated to putting social and environmental responsibility, sustainability and purpose ahead of profit ever since. Arbikie Disitllery This family-run farm-to-bottle distillery in Lunan Bay has been working tirelessly to reduce its carbon emissions and offer customers a truly field to bottle range of spirits. In 2020 they launched their first climate positive gin, Nadar, which was followed by a vodka. Nàdar, which means nature in Gaelic, is thought to be the world's first climate positive gin made from peas. A revolutionary spirit for the drinks industry, with a carbon footprint of -1.54 kg CO 2 e per 700ml bottle, it is at the forefront of the fight against climate change and biodiversity loss - the biggest challenges humankind has ever faced. Nadar is the result of five years of research, through Master Distiller, Kirsty Black's, PhD studentship between Abertay University and The James Hutton Institute. Arbikie also gained planning permission to build a 1 MW Wind Turbine on its farm at Lunan Bay in 2022, which will allow the production of green hydrogen. Arbikie believes it will be the first distillery in the world to be powered with green hydrogen, another major milestone on their journey to becoming one of the world's most sustainable distilleries. Bruichladdich Bruichladdich became B-Corp certified in 2020. Of this, the team at Bruichladdich said: "Highlights that helped us to achieve our original certification included our benefits package to staff. "These include Living Wage employment, a 5-10% bonus scheme shared for 100% of our staff, annual cost of living adjustments as well we private healthcare, life assurance provisions and 34 days paid annual leave as standard. We're also a diverse employer with a sound training and development program. Our team in 2020 had 50%+ female senior management and an age range of staff spanning from 19 to 75 years of age. "Our progressive attitude towards our community and sustainability also helped us qualify. We circulate the wastewater from our stills to heat our offices, bottling hall and visitor centre. We switched to 100% green electricity, sourced within the UK. We have ambitious plans for the future, and we can confidently say we are on our way." Nc'Nean Nc'Nean was named a 2022 Best for the World B Corp in recognition of exceptional positive impact for its environmental stewardship, ranking in the top 5% of all B Corps for that category in their corresponding size group. Best for the World is a distinction granted by B Lab to Certified B Corporations (B Corps) whose verified B Impact Scores in the five impact areas evaluated in the B Impact Assessment — community, customers, environment, governance, and workers — hit that top percentage category. Nc'nean earned this accolade based on initiatives such as powering the distillery with 100% renewable energy, using organic barley sourced exclusively from Scotland and bottling its whisky in a 100% recycled clear glass bottle – a UK first for a premium spirit. Rigorous in its approach to sustainable production, in 2021 it became the first whisky distillery in the UK to be verified as net zero for its own operations. Nc'nean founder Annabel Thomas said of this: 'As a small, passionate team we are incredibly proud to have achieved this accolade, which reflects our deep-rooted commitment to championing the most sustainable production processes. "We are extremely pleased with our very high score of 73.3 under the environmental stewardship section and being championed as one of the top 5% of B Corps in our size group for that category worldwide is a fantastic achievement. "We are not afraid to challenge perceptions of the way things should be done in the whisky industry and will continue to pioneer best practice with our ongoing environmental initiatives.' Brewgooder Picture: Brewgooder Twitter Another Scottish drinks brand that has been named Best for the World B Corp in recognition is Brewgooder. The firm achieved this in 2021. The team said of the accolade: "The 'Best for the World' are B Corps whose scores in one or more of the five impact areas assessed towards the certification, reach the top 5% of all B Corps worldwide. At Brewgooder, we have been recognised for our clean water efforts in the Community area. "As all B Corps are already businesses that meet the highest standards of verified social and environmental performance, public transparency, and legal accountability to balance profit and purpose — this is a recognition that makes us incredibly proud. "And we're just getting started… We will continue collaborating with the global B Corp community to improve and positively impact through the power of great craft beer."
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New partnership makes investment opportunities simpler and more accessible: 'Growing complexities ... require both technology and human expertise'
Financial company JTC has announced its partnership with Novata, a sustainability technology company. A new collaboration between JTC and Novata is a positive step toward more sustainable investment, with the partnership aiming to "support asset managers and investors with their sustainability goals," according to International Adviser. With the aim of helping companies achieve their sustainability goals, Novata can "automate data collection and reporting, streamline carbon accounting, and simplify regulations," the press release explained. Novata is a B-Corp certified public benefit corporation, so it is hopeful to see a multimillion-dollar fund administration service like JTC partner with them in this way. JTC previously appointed David Vieira as the Group Head of Sustainability in 2023, offering a Sustainability Services business to investors who want to have a positive impact on the environment. Many corporations have been called out for claiming to be more eco-friendly than they are. When it comes to sustainability, more transparency within the financial sector can only be a good thing to prevent greenwashing. Luckily, organizations and individuals are taking a stand against greenwashing to tell corporations that their misleading tactics are deeply problematic. The collaboration between a major financial company and a leading sustainability technology company will hopefully set a precedent for other financial organizations to genuinely make eco-friendly investments more accessible for their clients. The world is moving toward a cleaner economy, and it has never been a better time for corporations to shift their investments away from planet-harming projects to opportunities like clean energy and sustainability-focused businesses. It is vital that high-income individuals take accountability for their carbon footprint and work to be more sustainable. After all, a billionaire produces a million times more carbon pollution than the average person. Beyond this, the wealthiest 10% of Americans are responsible for 40% of the country's pollution. Novata's head of partnerships, Conor O'Laoire, said: "The growing complexities of sustainability regulation and reporting require both technology and human expertise, which is why I'm happy to be announcing our partnership with JTC." Do you think billionaires spend their money wisely? Definitely No way Some do Most do Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. He added that Novata will "offer market-leading solutions that encompass both sustainability technology and advisory services to JTC's clients around the world." Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Forbes
27-03-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Beyond Profits: Why Businesses Are Embracing Purpose-Driven Leadership
In a volatile economic environment, it's tempting as a business leader to have a laser focus on profit above everything else. Higher revenues underpinned by cost-efficient processes will drive up market share and ensure sustainable success, surely? Not necessarily - a recent McKinsey survey found that 82% of employees believe it's important for a business to have purpose, and 72% said this should be prioritized over profit. Driven by demands from shareholders, customers and employees, more and more companies are pursuing environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, often linking these to reward structures or how employees are promoted. People watching a presentation on a whiteboard in an office meeting room. But what does being a purposeful business mean? This will vary from one organization to another, but one of the key characteristics is that it sets a clear vision and mission, with benefits that extend beyond the business. For a recruitment business like mine, that might how we address skills shortages or remove barriers to employment for under-represented groups. It could reflect how managers inspire and empower their teams to do their best work, or how a business uses technology for good rather than just to speed things up. One of the most famous examples of purposeful businesses is The Body Shop, which has pioneered cruelty-free and fair-trade beauty products, but also operates an 'open hiring' policy that means candidates are successful if they meet just three simple criteria, trusting people's potential rather than their history. At Tiger Recruitment, we operate according to five guiding principles: excellence, positivity, integrity, dedication and gravitas. But these are more than words painted on a wall; we hold employees accountable for these values because that means our clients can instill their trust in them to do a fantastic job. We are also B-Corp certified, which means we have been verified as meeting the highest standards for social and environmental impact. B-Corp certification is a commitment to good governance and transparency, and one that we need to review and recertify every three years. In an industry often characterized by shady practices, our values-led approach makes us an outlier. It also makes it easier for us to retain employees, who value our commitment to fostering a positive working environment and espousing social and environmental responsibility. Being a purpose-driven business and a profitable one is not mutually exclusive - it's not about choosing one or the other. Candidates and clients want to work with ethical recruiters so come back to us again and again. Our ratings with customers and employees are consistently high, and would not be so impressive if we did not treat people with fairness and integrity. To ensure we remain true to our values we have systems in place that hold people accountable to not just sales targets but also compliance standards. It's important to deliver what we say we will, and not just talk a good game. By making it part of our 'business as usual', it informs everything we do and gives our company a reason for being beyond financial gains. Company culture is everything when it comes to demonstrating purpose. Leaders need to role-model the values of the business if they are to trickle down to line managers and their teams, for example explaining the wider impact of a key decision or consulting with communities if new products or services are likely to affect them. As a leader I keep leading the organization back to our five principles, bringing them up at off-site meetings or town hall discussions, and they are now fully embedded into how we recognize staff achievements and celebrated at every opportunity. Of course, being a purpose-driven business has its own rewards in terms of employee satisfaction and pride, but increasingly businesses are being asked to report on their non-financial impacts on society. The EU Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, for example, will require companies to publish regular reports on their ESG activities from this year. More and more companies are ahead of the curve on this type of reporting, disclosing non-financial data in their annual reports alongside their revenue and profit figures. Being purpose-driven can also mean commercial success. Companies that are vocal about their societal impact can be more effective at attracting talent, for example. Almost nine in 10 Generation Z and millennial workers say purpose is important to their job satisfaction and they are likely to turn down work or employers that don't align with their values, according to Deloitte. Building a culture of purpose also creates a sense of trust and safety in an organization, which in turn fosters innovation and ultimately profit. Having a positive impact on society is not a quick gimmick for charity days or to look good in a press release; working in this way can also drive financial performance and keep your workforce happy in the long term.
Yahoo
04-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
British initiative to tackle beauty products packaging waste
The British Beauty Council's Sustainable Beauty Coalition has initiated 'The Great British Beauty Clean Up', a campaign aimed at reducing beauty products packaging waste. The project is supported by over 50 retailers, brands, and industry professionals, responding to research that highlights a significant recycling gap in the sector. Recent findings by the British Beauty Council show that 86% of plastic beauty packaging fails to be recycled. This statistic reveals that only 14% of beauty product containers reach recycling facilities, with a mere 9% actually undergoing the recycling process. Furthermore, despite 79.3% of consumers considering sustainability a key factor in their purchasing decisions, only 23.4% currently opt for refillable skincare items. The campaign, backed by high-street names such as Boots, John Lewis, and Tesco, represents a pioneering collective effort to mitigate the environmental footprint of the beauty industry. The Great British Beauty Clean Up is committed to educating consumers on effective empty packaging management, promoting the principles of refill and reuse, and providing guidance on domestic recycling practices. To facilitate this, the British Beauty Council is updating its interactive recycling map, which identifies various beauty business recycling programmes across the UK, offering consumers locations to dispose of their hard-to-recycle packaging. The initiative encourages beauty shoppers to gather all nonrecyclable empties, including items too small, made of composite materials, or crafted from nonrecyclable substances. With the support of over 50 entities, the programme aims to engage a broad audience, from fans of mass-market to independent brands, whether they shop in person or online. Boots is contributing to the initiative by promoting its 'Recycle at Boots' scheme, which operates in over 800 UK stores and boasts over 330,000 registered users. L'Oréal is also participating by highlighting its Maybelline recycling programme, available in over 1,500 UK stores, including Sainsbury's, Superdrug, and Tesco. On the other hand, John Lewis is inviting customers to take part in its BeautyCycle scheme, offering rewards for recycling that can be spent on B-Corp certified beauty products from brands like Medik8 and ELEMIS. ELEMIS is set to educate its community about its recycling programme at its London venues. Additionally, The Hut Group, which owns Cult Beauty and LOOKFANTASTIC, will be featuring its 'recycle:me' programme, allowing recycling through a Royal Mail collection service and a network of 14,000 drop-off points, rewarding customers for their participation. The programme, which spans throughout this month, involves a coordinated effort from retailers, brands, and businesses to address the issue of beauty products packaging waste. "British initiative to tackle beauty products packaging waste" was originally created and published by Packaging Gateway, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
