Dutch Whisky Maker Achieves a Remarkable National First

Wednesday, 23 September 2026 at 10:01

Never miss whisky news, reviews, and new releases again.

Around the world, distilleries are stepping up their sustainability efforts—and the same is happening here at home. Bus Whisky is leading the charge and has become the first to earn B Corp certification. That makes the Brabant-based distillery the first whisky producer in the Netherlands authorized to carry the label.

Globally, Bus Whisky now joins a very select group. By their own account, the distillery is only the tenth whisky producer in the world to achieve B Corp certification.

What does B Corp actually mean?

Chances are you’ve come across the B Corp name before. Brands like Tony’s Chocolonely, Dopper, and Patagonia proudly carry the mark. In the whisky world, however, it’s still relatively rare. Among whisky distilleries, Nc’nean is one example that’s B Corp certified.

B Corp certification is awarded by B Lab. To qualify, a company isn’t judged solely on its profits, but also on the impact it has on people, the environment, and society. To secure the certification, Bus Whisky had to be fully transparent across multiple areas.

The assessment considered factors like environmental practices, transparency, employment standards, community engagement, and customer interests. The standout result: the whisky maker scored highly across the board.

Whisky spotlight from Whisky EXchange	Price
Octomore 17.1	144 pounds
Octomore 17.2	159 pounds
Octomore 17.3	201 pounds

From homegrown barley to their own beeswax

It’s no secret that Bus Whisky puts sustainability at the heart of what it does. The Brabant distillery keeps as much of its production as possible on its own estate. For example, it grows its own barley for whisky and, according to Bus, uses no artificial fertilizers or pesticides. Since 2025, both the distillery and the fields it cultivates have been organically certified.

Whisky making naturally leaves by-products behind. Bus aims to put those to good use as well. Various residual streams from production are given a second life.

According to the distillery, these leftovers end up in food products, non-alcoholic beer, and feed for fish or livestock. Production also runs on sustainable energy. Even the glass has been redesigned with a lower environmental footprint to further cut energy use and improve sustainability.

Founders Dennis Hurkmans and Ezra Leeger stress that achieving B Corp status isn’t a finish line. For them, it’s a powerful confirmation of the course the distillery has been steering for years.

Bus Whisky is number 10 in the world

Nearly 10,000 companies across more than 90 countries are now B Corp certified. Among whisky producers, however, the label remains rare.

Bus Whisky states it is the tenth whisky producer worldwide to earn the certification. In the Netherlands, the company has set a first: no other Dutch whisky maker can currently call itself a B Corp.

Made possible in part by BUS Whisky. Nix18

FAQ

What has Bus Whisky achieved?
Bus Whisky has earned B Corp certification and, according to the company, is the first Dutch whisky producer to receive this label.
How many whisky producers are B Corp certified?
According to Bus Whisky, the Brabant distillery is the 10th whisky producer in the world to receive the certification.
What is Bus Whisky doing for sustainability?
The distillery grows its own barley, uses no artificial fertilizers or pesticides in cultivation, and works with recycled glass, its own beeswax, sustainable energy, and the reuse of by-products.