Best sustainable spirits to drink at your hen do
Want to sip sustainably as you celebrate?
We’ve got the insider knowledge for the best sustainable spirits for your hen party.
Whether you want to gift a bottle, shake up some cocktails or sip stylishly on the rocks, these are spirits with a story that give back to the planet.
From the Scottish highlands to the deserts of Mexico, these sustainable spirits are doing their bit for their local communities and for our taste buds.
Keep reading for a taste of the good stuff.
What makes a sustainable spirit?
Sustainability is a word that is often easier said than done.
However, it is possible to sustainably produce spirits, plus other alcohols, that taste (and do) good!
The International Wine and Spirits Commission, set out that for a spirit to be sustainable it must prove its abilities to:
Repurpose materials such as by recycling casks, sourcing alternative energy and reducing plastic use
Support local economy and community
Conscious ingredient sourcing and usage
This takes hard work and dedication to investing in in-house distillery facilities that slowly produce a product.
It’s about replenishing resources where they are used, and supporting the planet through recycling and repurposing byproducts, for example.
As well as this, sustainability encompasses fair working environments that give back to the community and promote the ancient traditions around many of these drinks.
The best sustainable spirits for your hen party
Mijenta Tequila Blanco
Mijenta Tequila comes to us from the highlands of Jalisco, where it's made with sustainability in mind.
The bottles are made from locally sourced stock glass, while the labels are produced using agave waste.
The team also supports jimadores through the Mijenta Community foundation, to preserve the skills used in Tequila making.
Plus, Mijenta supports whale conservation, and is partnering with The Ocean Foundation to provide additional support during 2022!
Cooper King Dry Gin
Based in the heart of Yorkshire, Cooper King Dry Gin has been championing sustainability since 2016.
This delicious dry gin is also carbon-negative. How? Many of the botanicals used in the flavour are foraged from the local area including fresh lemongrass, locally grown lavender and honey.
When it comes to distilling, Cooper King cold-vacuum-distil its gin. This is an ever rare approach in modern times, but it gives a well-rounded, fresh flavour without costing the earth!
The distillery is run on 100% green energy!
Cooper King has joined the international environmental initiative 1% For The Planet, and will be donating 1% of the gin's annual sales to charity.
Working with a verified carbon offsetting scheme, the distillery removes 1kg more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits.
And furthermore plants 1 square metre of UK native woodland, for each bottle sold.
We’ll cheers to that!
FAIR Quinoa Vodka
The FAIR brand was built on a mission to support farmers in developing economies where they source their natural ingredients.
Buying Fairtrade certified spirits ensures that workers who grow the crops are paid a fair price to support their families and work in their community.
Fairtrade spirits come under the guidelines of The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which are a call for action by all countries to promote prosperity while protecting the planet.
FAIR has also pledged to use no plastic (at all) by the end of 2024.
Toti Rum
Toti is a brilliant brand producing high quality rum inspired by the Caribbean sand and sea.
They take their name from the Creole word for turtle, ‘toti’ which reflects their promise to give back to the places that make their rum so special.
True to that, they donate 15% of profits to marine conservation charities, protecting turtles and the seas they swim in.
Nc'nean Organic Single Malt
This is a Scottish whisky that makes a big impression with just the smallest footprint.
Every bottle is certified organic, made in the verified carbon neutral distillery and bottled in a 100% recycled glass bottle.
In 2021 they diverted 99.97% of all of our waste from landfill.
This includes initiatives such as the use of pot ale - the liquid which is left after distilling - as fertiliser for local farmland. The whisky production process also creates draff, or leftover barley, which provides a tasty meal for the cows on the farm.
Dos Hombres’ Tobala Mezcal
This is a mezcal brand committed to promoting sustainability in the remote town that is home to the mezcal.
Through their popular merch and brilliant beverage, Dos Hombres Tobala Mezcal has supported
Local Water Purification Facility in the San Luis del Rio community, where the mezcal is produced.
Amongst other sustainability achievements, Dos Hombres constructed and donated a water filtration system in September 2021 for the people of the town.
Tobala has to be found in the wild and matured for at least 25 years before it can be harvested.
For each Tobala that Dos Hombres discovers, they plant two more in its place giving back to the earth.