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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Environment

Drams, dams and endangered salmon

One of Scotland’s smallest distilleries is working with scientists to find out whether aluminium could replace glass bottles for its Scotch whisky. Stirling Distillery , Scotland UK 19/12/2025 © COPYRIGHT PHOTO BY MURDO MACLEOD All Rights Reserved Tel + 44 131 669 9659 Mobile +44 7831 504 531 Email: m@murdophoto.com STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS APPLY See details at http://www.murdophoto.com/T%26Cs.html No syndication, no redistribution. A22U4Y, sgealbadh, A22R4S
‘The dam also acts as an obstruction to migratory fish including salmon, which is now an endangered species.’ Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian

I read your article about the Stirling Distillery with interest (Green whisky? Scottish distillery tests eco-friendly aluminium bottles, 11 January). The marketing director of the distillery seems to believe that younger consumers could be motivated by promises of far better green credentials from using aluminium bottles rather than glass ones.

However, the production of aluminium at Fort William, in the Highlands of Scotland, is anything but green. The smelter there uses electricity part-generated by the Spey dam, diverted from the Spey catchment.

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