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Aultmore Whisky Distillery

Waste not

As with many industries, the whisky trade is subject to strict regulations regarding pollution and care of the environment. Legislation such as the Rivers (Prevention of Pollution) (Scotland) 1965, Control of Pollution Act 1974 and Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive control the way distilleries deal with their waste.

However, as far back as 1909 distilleries were willing to work with the authorities on the treatment of their by-products. A Royal Commission Report of the time reported that “the treatment of distillery waste could produce a satisfactory effluent and that pot ale could be evaporated and sold as manure. Where distilleries were situated in sewered towns, the sewers should be utilized for waste disposal.”

It was in the early fifties that the next step forward was made. Experiments were pioneered at Aultmore and Imperial Distillery, which led to the process whereby the pot ale and draff were combined to make protein-rich animal feed. This technology is now industry-wide and the dark grains plants help to make the production of Scotch Single Malt Whisky one of the most ecologically sound industries in existence.