Re-opening
Bruichladdich Distillery was re-opened after seven years of closure. We would win Distillery of the Year for the first time, then again subsequently in 2003, 2006 and 2007.
Milestones
2001
2003
bottling hall
We refurbished an old warehouse into an on-site bottling hall. From 2003, we’ve done all of our single malt bottlings on the island, with nothing exported to the Scottish Mainland. Today our bottling lines and supply chain functions employ 26 people full time.
2003
2003
Organic barley
Organic barley is first harvested and distilled. Barley would be traced from single farms at Mid Coull, Coulmore, Mains of Tullibardine and Pitgaveny Estate over the years. It is a staple in our production schedule to this day.
2004
Islay Barley
We ignited an Islay barley project with Raymond Stewart. He was the first of our farming partners to raise malting barley on Islay in living memory. He would pave the way for 20 others to join him by 2020.
2004
2005
Queen’s Award
Bruichladdich Distillery wins Queen’s Award for Enterprise
2005
Bere Barley
We first planted Bere barley on Islay in partnership with the University of the Highlands and Islands Agronomy Institute (Orkney). Collaboratively, our work with this six-row landrace would help to keep this ancient grain in commercial circulation, raising its profile and protecting its legacy.
2005
2010
anaerobic digestor
We tested the viability of an anaerobic digestor to power production in our distillery. Undeterred by our failure, we will continue to pursue green energy sources.
2011
Energy Institute
Winner of The Energy Institute Environment Award
2011
2011
Biodynamic barley
Biodynamic barley first distilled from Yatesbury House Farm near Wiltshire
2011
wastewater heating
Circulation system installed, using wastewater from the stills to heat distillery offices, bottling hall and visitor centre
2011
2015
Coultorsay warehouses
Construction of Coultorsay warehouses started, future proofing all-Islay maturation for many years to come – a commitment we’ve made since 2001.
2015
The Botanist Foundation
The Botanist Foundation is established by then-CEO Simon Coughlin, Jim McEwan retired Master Distiller, CEO Douglas Taylor, our late Head of Communications Carl Reavey and original botanists Richard and Mavis Gulliver. The Foundation would go on to support the RSPB on Islay, the Nature of Scotland awards, wildflower, biodiversity & pollinator initiatives and funding for a PHD student to explore conservation of Scottish juniper.
2015
2017
Tree Planting
From 2017 to 2018, we’d plant ~7,500 trees in partnership with The Woodland Trust.
2017
winter rye
Andrew Jones first grows winter rye on Islay at Coull Farm, introducing additional grain into his crop rotation that year. He would go on to trial spring rye and winter barley in the years following.
2017
2017
PURCHASE OF SHORE HOUSE CROFT
We purchased ‘Shore House Croft’. These 30 acres of unused croft land surround the distillery and will be used for research and development into sustainable agriculture.
2018
wildflower conservation
We have also worked to preserve wildflower populations throughout the distillery grounds. Some of our farming partners have also introduced wildflower conservation strips in barley fields to promote biodiversity, including sunflower strips.
2018
2018
Energy reduction
We would start to install LED lights, Passive Infrared Sensors (PIR) sensors in all new builds, phasing across our sites as ongoing maintenance takes place, and installing power inverters to reduce energy consumption across pumps and motors
2018
landfill reduction
Between 2018 and 2019, we would divert 126 tonnes of landfill by recycling or reusing
2018
2018
volunteer work
Between 2018 and 2019, we completed 539 hours of volunteer work for our local community during work hours
2019
Living Wage Employer
Certified as Living Wage Employer. Improved maternity pay and flexible working introduced. Cycle to work scheme introduced and +11% headcount recruited
2019
2019
Barley trials
Through an ongoing collaboration with the James Hutton Institute and the UHI Agronomy Institute, we planted 64 varieties of barley (and 27 of wheat) into small plots on our croft. Many were heritage or hybrid varieties designed to test their suitability for growing on the wet, west coast. Hybrid varieties are designed to combine the benefits of conventional varieties such as disease resistance and yield, with characteristics of some heritage varieties such as flavour or long straw. These characteristics are not exclusive to modern or heritage varieties respectively, but hybrids that are bred and tested in local conditions is one of the exciting opportunities we have to develop more sustainable growing in the future. The expertise of these partners will be essential to us testing varieties not currently on the recommended growing list.
2019
electric vehicles
We replaced our traditional fossil-fuel powered staff car with two fully electric vehicles
2019
2019
Footpath project
We have donated and supported the Islay Community Footpath project which will link the villages of Bruichladdich and Port Charlotte. We have also donated on an ongoing basis to local charitable organisations across art, music and sport.
2020
100% GREEN ELECTRICITY
From 1st May, 100% of the distillery’s electricity is sourced renewably in the UK
2020
2020
CERTIFIED B CORPORATION
In May, we became the first whisky and gin distillery in Europe to become certified B Corporation.
2020
TRACEABILITY
This year, we are working with 30 individual growers across Islay and Mainland Scotland. 76% of our barley is traceable back to the farm. We work with our malting partner Bairds to source the other 24% from the Invernesshire region of Scotland.
2020
2020
Islay BARLEY
This year, 50% of our annual barley requirements were grown on Islay across 21 individual farms last year. Bruichladdich is able to trace and taste local barley, grown in close proximity to the distillery while our farming partners are able to share in our island’s booming industry and diversify their farming income.
2020
Laddie People
80 people now work for our distillery on Islay, a further 23 are based at our Glasgow office. In our 103 strong team, a diverse age range is represented, from 19 – 75 years of age. 61 are under the age of 40, 28 of those are under 30. A total of 43 are female. Eight of our 18 senior management are female. Those who have been promoted internally or have moved departments to increase their work/life balance total 41.
2020
2020
Botanic Gardens
The Botanist partners with The Botanic Gardens Conservation Internal to provide funding through The Botanist Foundation. The Global Botanic Garden Fund enables gardens to fund projects that further their work in the prevention of extinction of plants. So far we’ve supported projects in Italy, Uganda, Hawaii, Mexico and South Africa.
