Latest news with #BruichladdichDistillery
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Iconic distillery on Scotland's whisky island featured in BBC global film series
The Bruichladdich Distillery on Islay has been chosen as the only spirits producer featured in a global film series by B Lab Global and BBC StoryWorks A pioneering distillery on Scotland's whisky island is earning international recognition for its green credentials, becoming the only spirits producer featured in a new global film series celebrating purpose-driven businesses. Bruichladdich Distillery, located on the windswept shores of Islay, has been chosen to appear in a new series by B Lab Global and BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. The film spotlights select certified B Corporations from around the world that are reshaping business success by prioritising environmental and social impact. Founded in 1881 and revived in 2001, Bruichladdich was the first Scotch whisky distiller to achieve B Corp certification in 2020 and was re-certified in 2023 with an improved B Impact Score of 100.7, making it one of the highest-scoring spirits producers in the world. The seven-minute film, which debuts this month to audiences outside the UK, offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at life at the distillery, which also produces gin. From Victorian-era stills and scenic coastlines to its work with local farmers and foragers, the film paints a vivid picture of how Bruichladdich is addressing global challenges from its remote island home. Filming captured everything from croft land and rugged landscapes to the distillery's Botanist Gin foraging programme, where 22 native botanicals including wild mint and meadowsweet are hand-picked by island-based forager Kate Hannett – the head distiller's sister – in a bid to preserve biodiversity. Head distiller Adam Hannett, who was born and raised on Islay and serves as the film's central voice, said the distillery's location carries both a 'privilege and a responsibility.' 'Our location is both a privilege and a responsibility. We've always believed we could make exceptional whisky while protecting our environment, supporting our community, and being open about the challenges that come with that,' he said. The film delves into the distillery's commitment to regenerative agriculture, with more than half of its barley for 2024 and 2025 grown on the island. Bruichladdich is expanding this through long-term partnerships with local farmers, including Andrew Jones of Coull Farm. Jones, who also appears in the film, grows rye for the distillery using chemical-free methods that help improve soil health and carbon retention. The rye was first used in Bruichladdich's limited-edition bottle, The Regeneration Project. 'Farming here isn't easy – the climate, the terrain, the remoteness – but working with Bruichladdich has opened up new possibilities. It's farming that gives back to the land, not just takes from it,' Jones said. 'Rye restores nutrients in the ground that the barley removes. Every crop of barley that goes in after has consistently been the best crop of barley on the farm. It's the essence of regenerative farming,' he added. Bruichladdich now employs over 100 people, many of whom are islanders, and has introduced policies including a real living wage, living hours, caregiver support, and cost-of-living allowances for local staff. Chief executive Douglas Taylor sees the film as a chance to show that even small, remote businesses can lead major change. 'This film provides a platform to share our story on the global stage,' he said. 'We don't do things because they're the cheapest, easiest, or most efficient way to operate, but because they're the right way, and produce the best spirits. 'Since reopening our Hebridean site in 2001, we have set out to prove that a whisky business could be about more than what's in the bottle. "Focusing on our raw ingredients, making informed environmental choices, and putting Islay at the heart of our decision making has been imperative over the years, and we remain passionate about connecting land, community and dram today.' The distillery has already reduced the carbon footprint of its Classic Laddie bottle packaging by 65 per cent and uses renewable heating oil while recycling waste heat from production. It has also pledged to eliminate fossil fuels from its distillation process by 2030, 15 years ahead of Scotland's net zero target. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. Earlier this year, Bruichladdich was named a finalist for B Corp of the Year at the 2025 British Business Awards. For head distiller Hannett, the global recognition is about more than whisky, it's about honouring heritage and community. 'We're doing things that nobody in the history of whisky making on Islay has done before – that's a privilege. Coming from the island and to be involved in its heritage, that's a really nice moment,' he said. 'This film is a moment for the whole island. It showcases Islay's farming, foraging and distilling traditions, that are all so deeply interconnected. Being able to tell that story on a global stage is incredibly powerful.'
Scotsman
20-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Hebridean whisky and gin distillery to play starring role in BBC global film series
'We're doing things that nobody in the history of whisky making on Islay has done before - that's a privilege' – Adam Hannett, head distiller Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A remote Hebridean whisky and gin distillery's efforts to go green have been rewarded after it was selected as the only spirits producer to appear in a new global film series. Islay-based Bruichladdich Distillery is one of a select group of certified B Corporations to feature in the series presented by B Lab Global and produced by BBC StoryWorks Commercial Productions. The films explore how businesses around the world are redefining success to include positive environmental and social impact. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Bruichladdich, which is already known for its pioneering sustainability efforts and commitment to the local community, was selected as the only spirits producer to appear in the series. Founded in 1881 and revived in 2001, Bruichladdich Distillery achieved B Corp certification in 2020. The seven-minute film, which will be available to audiences outside the UK and debuts this month, provides a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into life at the distillery - from its Victorian-era stills to its partnerships with Islay farmers and foragers - and highlights how the venture is tackling global challenges from its small island base. Founded in 1881 and revived in 2001, Bruichladdich became the first Scotch whisky distiller to achieve B Corp certification in 2020, joining a global movement of businesses committed to high standards of transparency, accountability and sustainability. The distillery was re-certified in 2023 with an improved B Impact Score of 100.7, placing it among the highest-scoring spirits producers globally. Bruichladdich's head distiller, Adam Hannett, who was born and raised on Islay, and is the focus of the new film, said: 'Our location is both a privilege and a responsibility. We've always believed we could make exceptional whisky while protecting our environment, supporting our community, and being open about the challenges that come with that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad One of the central themes of the new film is the distillery's focus on regenerative agriculture. More than half of the barley used in its whisky production during 2024/25 was grown on the island - a figure the business is working to increase through long-term partnerships with local farmers. Adam Hannett is the head distiller at Bruichladdich, on the island of Islay. Among them is Andrew Jones, of Coull Farm, who also appears in the film. The long-standing farming partner grows rye for the distillery, which was first bottled as limited-edition The Regeneration Project, with the crop grown using chemical-free methods that are aimed at improving soil health and carbon retention. Jones said: 'Farming here isn't easy - the climate, the terrain, the remoteness - but working with Bruichladdich has opened up new possibilities. It's farming that gives back to the land, not just takes from it. 'Rye restores nutrients in the ground that the barley removes. Every crop of barley that goes in after has consistently been the best crop of barley on the farm. It's the essence of regenerative farming,' he added. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad With a workforce of more than 100 people - many of them islanders - Bruichladdich has implemented a real living wage and living hours policy, alongside care-giver support and cost-of-living allowances for local employees. Exterior of Islay-based Bruichladdich Distillery. Picture: Anton Suckdorff Photography Chief executive Douglas Taylor said the film was an opportunity to show the world that small businesses can have a big impact and drive positive, substantial change. 'This film provides a platform to share our story on the global stage,' he said. 'We don't do things because they're the cheapest, easiest, or most efficient way to operate, but because they're the right way, and produce the best spirits. 'Since reopening our Hebridean site in 2001, we have set out to prove that a whisky business could be about more than what's in the bottle. Focusing on our raw ingredients, making informed environmental choices, and putting Islay at the heart of our decision making has been imperative over the years, and we remain passionate about connecting land, community and dram today.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Filming took place across the island, capturing its rugged coastline, croft land and the distillery itself. The film also features scenes from The Botanist Gin foraging programme, with island-based forager Kate Hannett, Bruichladdich head distiller's sister, hand-picking the 22 Islay native botanicals including meadowsweet and wild mint that go into the spirit while preserving local biodiversity. The film series is presented by B Lab Global and produced by BBC StoryWorks, the commercial content division of BBC Studios. It aims to highlight how B Corps around the world are challenging the traditional 'profit-only' model by integrating environmental and social purpose into their core operations. Earlier this year, Bruichladdich Distillery was named a finalist for B Corp of the Year at the 2025 British Business Awards. The business has pledged to eliminate fossil fuels from its distillation process by 2030 - 15 years ahead of Scotland's current net zero target. It already uses a renewable heating oil and recycles waste heat from production. The firm's Classic Laddie bottle has reduced its packaging carbon footprint by 65 per cent. Sustainable The distillery's inclusion in the B Lab series shines a spotlight on sustainable practice within the traditionally conservative whisky sector. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Head distiller Hannett added: 'We're doing things that nobody in the history of whisky making on Islay has done before - that's a privilege. Coming from the island and to be involved in its heritage, that's a really nice moment. 'This film is a moment for the whole island. It showcases Islay's farming, foraging and distilling traditions, that are all so deeply interconnected. Being able to tell that story on a global stage is incredibly powerful.'
