Spirited Virginia Q2 2020 - 18

Monitor energy consumption.

"Distillation is an unavoidably
energy-intensive process by
its very nature," explains Ian
Glomski, founder of V I T A E S P I R I T S
D I S T I L L E R Y in Charlottesville. To
compensate for this, distilleries can
target efficiency.
THE VIRGINIA DISTILLERY

in Nelson County
maximizes energy usage by storing
and reusing heat.
"Once we've created heat, this
energy, how do we get the most
out of it so that we're not burning
more fuel?" asks Ian Thomas of
Virginia Distillery. The distillery's
answer is to reuse it. For example,
it uses the heat harvested from
pot ales to help bring the wash
to the boiling point. Conversely,
when hot mash is cooling
enough to add yeast, this heat is
transferred to be used elsewhere.
In Cognac, France, H E N N E S S Y 's
focus on sustainability is as
classic as its cognac. Since 2002,
the distillery has drastically
reduced energy consumption
and greenhouse gas emissions
and increased sustainable
transportation.

Ocean Organic Vodka's farm

practices and some of the
distilleries that embrace them can
inspire you to take action, too-
and give you a shopping list of
brands to put in your Virginia ABC
cart. To advance sustainability,
distilleries have chosen to:

Source responsibly.

Sweden ranks among the top three
most environmentally friendly
countries, so it's no surprise
that Absolut is earth-friendly,
"from farm to sip." Absolutely all
ingredients are sourced locally, by
farmers who share a commitment to
quality and to sustainable farming.
This reduces the distillery's
carbon footprint, supports
the community and maintains
the liquor's consistent quality.
Absolut's bottles are made locally,
too, from recycled clear glass.
Harris of C A T O C T I N C R E E K
points out another way to source
responsibly: "We follow certified
organic production, which ensures
we are good stewards of the
agricultural land we use," he says.
In Brazil, N O V O F O G O O R G A N I C
C A C H A Ç A follows organic, ecofriendly sugarcane farming
practices: no chemical herbicides

18 VIRGINIA ABC | ABC.VIRGINIA.GOV

Square One Organic Vodka and their
partners use a wind farm a few miles
from their distillery.

or pesticides (which cause carbon
emissions in their manufacture)
and no burning of sugarcane fields.
Other organic brands include
S Q U A R E O N E O R G A N I C S P I R I T S and
O C E A N O R G A N I C V O D K A , which
grows its sugarcane on its Maui,
Hawaii, property.
Sourcing barrels responsibly is
important, too. White oak barrels
for S U N T O R Y -brand bourbons and
barrels for Novo Fogo cachaça are
procured from sustainably focused
suppliers.

Use green energy

is the first East
Coast distillery to be powered by
solar electricity. The system offsets
nearly 85% of the company's
electrical usage.
And Catoctin isn't alone. Other
distilleries have adopted the green
mantra.
T I T O ' S V O D K A built a twomegawatt solar array in Austin,
Texas, covering more than 10 acres
of land.
K E T E L O N E V O D K A uses a giant
wind turbine, built to look like
traditional Dutch windmills.
California's S Q U A R E O N E
O R G A N I C S P I R I T S uses wind power.
CATOCTIN CREEK

OCEAN ORGANIC VODKA: COURTESY OF COURTESY OF HAWAII SEA SPIRITS / SQUARE ONE ORGANIC VODKA: ALLISON EVANOW

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Spirited Virginia Q2 2020

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