17.07.21 Whisky Production
Know your Yin from your Yang or indeed your Yen
Our carbon foot print calculation demonstrated that our malted barley was the largest single element in the overall foot print of our new make spirit. Some of this is mitigated by our malt supplier, Muntons https://www.muntons.com/practical-sustainability/ , investing significantly in low carbon malting and kilning systems. However, this still left a significant amount of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) in our malted barley.
The GHG emissions in our barley are not driven primarily by our farmers ploughing, sowing, and harvesting but the use of the various fertilisers on the land. Here at InchDairnie we are supporting the YEN Zero program which will research and share the learnings on how to reduce the GHG emission from the growing of crops. https://www.yen.adas.co.uk/projects/yen-zero
ADAS established the Yield Enhancement Network, YEN, in 2012 and much of the early work was looking at increasing the on-farm yield of many different crops. The network it is a true open learning network where real on farm experience, learnings and data can be shared by the farming communities and the industries that support them. https://www.yen.adas.co.uk/about
Early work from the original YENs have shown there is only a small association between the tons of crop harvested and the amount of fertiliser used. So clearly other matters are in play. The early work of YEN Zero will look to establish some benchmark data to provide a base line for future work, mitigating the carbon footprint of crop products, to be measured against.
Here at InchDairnie we do not offset our carbon emissions. We look to make a real change to what we do and how we do it. Being a true low carbon foot print distillery is not incompatible with making a great whisky, it just takes some effort and innovation. As part of our support for the program we are looking to sponsor five farms in Fife to take part in the program. We will look to malt and distil some of their barley to demonstrate the full impact of the work on our carbon foot print. It’s not a competition, however, we will give a cask of whisky and mature it here at InchDairnie, made from their own barley, to the farm that grows the barley which gives us the lowest carbon foot print of all the Fife Farms.
Any Fife farmer interested in taking part in the program, please contact us through our e-mail address carbonfootprint@inchdairniedistillery.com
RyeLaw rides along to Rioja with LeBlanq
Earlier this year, we announced our partnership with luxury cycling tour specialist, LeBlanq as their official Global Whisky Partner for 2023/24.
Fife Distillery has gone to the dark side
InchDairnie Distillery has gone to the dark side. Just for a short period.
Something’s Brewing in Distilling
Every year InchDairnie Distillery clears the calendar for up to two weeks to distil something out of the ordinary.
All Fired Up On Cask Research For RyeLaw
When we began to look at producing RyeLaw in 2016 we studied the definition of Rye Whiskey in America.
Using Heat Pumps at InchDairnie
Here at InchDairnie we are always looking for different ways to reduce our carbon footprint.
Sweden’s Whisky & Bourbon Magazine No.53
Writer and journalist Daniel Bruce paid a visit to InchDairnie, as part of his visit to distilleries across Fife.
Brewer and Distiller International: Sustainable Distilling
In the December issue of Brewer and Distiller International, published by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling.
Sour Mash
Sour mash or as it is often called in Scotland, ‘Back Set’ is where the pot ale or clarified spent wash is used as part of the mashing liquid.
Press Release: InchDairnie Distillery Wheat Whisky
At InchDairnie Distillery they admit the idea of distilling wheat at a malt distillery is so new that there is not even an official specification in Scotland that describes the product yet.
Press Release: InchDairnie Distillery Sour Mash
“Sour Mash” … a pair of words normally associated with the USA where many, if not most, bourbon and Tennessee distilleries use the sour mash method in the making of their whiskeys.