Elite Traveler Summer 2021

WOODFORD

NC’NEAN This up-and-coming distillery was featured in our Spring issue because of its groundbreaking approach to making Scotch. Every aspect of the project was designed with sustainability in mind and, last year, it released the first ever 100% organic single malt Scotch whisky. Collectors clamored to get their hands on the inaugural release, with ‘Bottle No 1’ selling for a record $53,000 at auction. But Nc’nean’s sustainability efforts extend far beyond organic produce. The distillery runs off 100% renewable energy with the vast majority generated by an on-site biomass boiler. In 2019, just 0.01% of its waste went to landfill. Although rainfall is in bountiful supply in the Scottish Highlands, the distillery still takes great care to use as little as possible, recycling the water used to cool its stills. The Scotch Whisky Association recently announced plans to reach net-zero emissions across the industry by 2040, but Nc’nean is likely to reach that target well before then. You can help support the distillery by investing in a cask. Just 60 casks are offered every year and demand outstrips supply, so register your interest for 2022 now. Each cask will eventually yield over 300 bottles of organic whisky to be shared with friends and family. Casks from $4,770, ncnean.com

RESERVE Woodford Reserve is one of the most recognizable names in bourbon and proudly caters to both ends of the market. Its big-volume, everyday bourbon can be seen at any good liquor store, while its ultra-high-end liquid graces the cellars of avid collectors. Last year, the distillery’s parent company Brown-Forman invested in the East Fork Wind Project with the goal of offsetting 90% of its energy usage at all its US facilities. As it counts drinks giant Jack Daniel’s among its portfolio, that is no mean feat. The company has committed to purchasing 30 megawatts of wind power annually over the next 15 years, which will help to reduce Woodford Reserve’s CO2 emissions. The distillery has already been working to reduce its impact on the world: It recycles 98% of its waste material across all operations, and 97% of food scraps are composted on-site. It has dedicated 10 acres of land at its facility to native grass restoration, which will improve wildlife diversity and soil quality. Get a taste for Woodford Reserve’s dedication to bourbon with its Baccarat Edition. This complex bourbon is finished in highly prized XO Cognac barrels and presented in a bespoke crystal decanter handcrafted by the renowned French company. $2,300, woodfordreserve.com