Elite Traveler Summer 2021

INSPIRE 20TH ANNIVERSARY GUIDE TO RESPONSIBLE LUXURY

Spirits

The fine spirits we enjoy today are the result of centuries of experimentation and shared knowledge. The art of distillation originated organically in several parts of the globe. In Mexico, small communities used the abundant agave to make tequila. In Scotland, traveling monks utilized fields of barley for malt whisky. For hundreds of years, these processes were little more than cottage industries, serving the local communities around them. But, as demand exploded, so did production. Landscapes were transformed and overexploited, and coal-powered distilleries brought pollution to untouched rural areas. But the spirits industry has been quick to learn from its mistakes and is now at the forefront of the push towards sustainable production. With the climate changing at pace, these masters of their craft have supercharged their way to a greener future.

by Alex Martin

FLOR DE CAÑA When it comes to setting new standards of sustainability, Flor de Caña is leading the way. The rum producer was the first spirit brand to become carbon neutral and Fair Trade certified. Located at the base of Nicaragua’s most active volcano, Flor de Caña uses the awesome power of nature to produce some of the world’s finest rum. The production has been 100% powered by renewable energy for over a decade, and the distillery even captures some of the CO2 emissions caused by fermentation. The company has planted 50,000 trees every year since 2005, moving it into the realm of carbon-negative status. Flor de Caña also offers free schooling for workers’ children since 1913 and free family healthcare since 1958. This level of care for the environment and its employees is captured in its award-winning rums — the pinnacle of which is the 30-year-old V Generaciones. The bottle top is crafted from volcanic rock and the decanter features signatures of the five generations behind the company. The rum is aged in white oak barrels in tropical temperatures and humidity, so it matures more quickly, which imbues it with a level of intensity unlike many other spirits of the same age. $1,200 flordecana.com