Milestones
A timeline of achievements
RE-OPENING
Bruichladdich Distillery was re-opened after seven years of closure. We would win Distillery of the Year for the first time, then again subsequently in 2003, 2006 and 2007.
BOTTLING HALL
We refurbished an old warehouse into an on-site bottling hall. From 2003, we’ve done all of our single malt bottlings on the island, with nothing exported to the Scottish Mainland. Today our bottling lines and supply chain functions employ 26 people full time.
ORGANIC BARLEY
Organic barley is first harvested and distilled. Barley would be traced from single farms at Mid Coull, Coulmore, Mains of Tullibardine and Pitgaveny Estate over the years. It is a staple in our production schedule to this day.
ISLAY BARLEY
We ignited an Islay barley project with Raymond Stewart. He was the first of our farming partners to raise malting barley on Islay in living memory. He would pave the way for 20 others to join him by 2020.
BERE BARLEY
We first planted Bere barley on Islay in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands Agronomy Institute (Orkney). Collaboratively, our work with this six-row landrace would help to keep this ancient grain in commercial circulation, raising its profile and protecting its legacy.
QUEEN’S AWARD
Bruichladdich Distillery wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise
ANAEROBIC DIGESTOR
We tested the viability of an anaerobic digestor to power production in our distillery. Undeterred by our failure, we will continue to pursue green energy sources.
Biodynamic Barley
Biodynamic barley first distilled from Yatesbury House Farm near Wiltshire.
ENERGY INSTITUTE
Winner of The Energy Institute Environment Award
Wasterwater Heating
Circulation system installed, using wastewater from the stills to heat distillery offices, bottling hall and visitor centre.
Coultorsay Warehouses
Construction of Coultorsay warehouses started, future proofing all-Islay maturation for many years to come – a commitment we’ve made since 2001.
The Botanist Foundation
The Botanist Foundation is established by then-CEO Simon Coughlin, now-CEO Douglas Taylor, our late Head of Communications Carl Reavey and original botanists Richard and Mavis Gulliver. The Foundation would go on to support the RSPB on Islay, the Nature of Scotland awards, wildflower, biodiversity & pollinator initiatives and funding for a PHD student to explore conservation of Scottish juniper.
PURCHASE OF SHORE HOUSE CROFT
We purchased ‘Shore House Croft’. These 30 acres of unused croft land surround the distillery and will be used for research and development into sustainable agriculture.
TREE PLANTING
From 2017 to 2018, we’d plant ~7,500 trees in partnership with The Woodland Trust.
WINTER RYE
Andrew Jones first grows winter rye on Islay at Coull Farm, introducing additional grain into his crop rotation that year. He would go on to trial spring rye and winter barley in the years following.
Energy Reduction
We would start to install LED lights, Passive Infrared Sensors (PIR) sensors in all new builds, phasing across our sites as ongoing maintenance takes place, and installing power inverters to reduce energy consumption across pumps and motors.
Landfill Reduction
Between 2018 and 2019, we would divert 126 tonnes of landfill by recycling or reusing
Volunteer Work
Between 2018 and 2019, we completed 539 hours of volunteer work for our local community during work hours
WILDFLOWER CONSERVATION
We have also worked to preserve wildflower populations throughout the distillery grounds. Some of our farming partners have also introduced wildflower conservation strips in barley fields to promote biodiversity, including sunflower strips.
Barley Trials
Through an ongoing collaboration with the James Hutton Institute and the UHI Agronomy Institute, we planted 6 varieties of barley (and 27 of wheat) into small plots on our croft. Many were heritage or hybrid varieties designed to test their suitability for growing on the wet, west coast. Hybrid varieties are designed to combine the benefits of conventional varieties such as disease resistance and yield, with characteristics of some heritage varieties such as flavour or long straw. These characteristics are not exclusive to modern or heritage varieties respectively, but hybrids that are bred and tested in local conditions is one of the exciting opportunities we have to develop more sustainable growing in the future. The expertise of these partners will be essential to us testing varieties not currently on the recommended growing list.
Electric Vehicles
We replaced our traditional fossil-fuel powered staff car with two fully electric vehicles.
Footpath Project
We have donated and supported the Islay Community Footpath project which will link the villages of Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte. We have also donated on an ongoing basis to local charitable organisations across art, music and sport.
Living Wage Employer
Certified as Living Wage Employer. Improved maternity pay and flexible working introduced. Cycle to work scheme introduced and +11% headcount recruited.
100% Green Electricity
From 1st May, 100% of the distillery’s electricity is sourced renewably in the UK.
Botanic Gardens
The Botanist partners with the Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) to provide funding through The Botanist Foundation. The Global Botanic Garden Fund enables gardens to fund projects that further their work in the prevention of extinction of plants. So far we’ve supported projects in Italy, Uganda, Hawaii, Mexico and South Africa.
Certified B Corporation
In May, we became the first whisky and gin distillery in Europe to become certified B Corporation.
Hydrogen Study
This year, 50% of our annual barley requirements were grown on Islay across 21 individual farms last year. Bruichladdich is able to trace and taste local barley, grown in close proximity to the distillery while
our farming partners are able to share in our island’s booming industry and diversify their farming income.
Islay Barley
This year, 50% of our annual barley requirements were grown on Islay across 21 individual farms last year. Bruichladdich is able to trace and taste local barley, grown in close proximity to the distillery while our farming partners are able to share in our island’s booming industry and diversify their farming income.
Traceability
This year, we are working with 30 individual growers across Islay and Mainland Scotland. 76% of our barley is traceable back to the farm. We work with our malting partner Bairds to source the other 24% from the Invernesshire region of Scotland.
ONE TIN LIGHTER
In February, we’ve made the outer tin optional across our entire single malts range, on our online shop and in our distillery visitor centre. You can now choose to make the world of whisky one tin lighter.
- 2001
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2001 RE-OPENING
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2003 BOTTLING HALL
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2003 ORGANIC BARLEY
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2004 ISLAY BARLEY
- 2005
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2005 BERE BARLEY
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2005 QUEEN’S AWARD
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2010 ANAEROBIC DIGESTOR
- 2011
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2011 Biodynamic Barley
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2011 ENERGY INSTITUTE
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2011 Wasterwater Heating
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2015 Coultorsay Warehouses
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2015 The Botanist Foundation
- 2017
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2017 PURCHASE OF SHORE HOUSE CROFT
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2017 TREE PLANTING
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2017 WINTER RYE
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2018 Energy Reduction
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2018 Landfill Reduction
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2018 Volunteer Work
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2018 WILDFLOWER CONSERVATION
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2019 Barley Trials
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2019 Electric Vehicles
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2019 Footpath Project
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2019 Living Wage Employer
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2020 100% Green Electricity
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2020 Botanic Gardens
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2020 Certified B Corporation
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2020 Hydrogen Study
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2020 Islay Barley
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2020 Traceability
- 2021
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2021 ONE TIN LIGHTER