Whisky World Revolution: Billy Walker’s The GlenAllachie Innovates Distillation Technique

Sunday, 12 October 2025 at 12:00

Sustainability is fast becoming a key topic in the world of whisky by 2025. The push for greener practices is relentless, and it's an aspect that The GlenAllachie is now prioritizing. The Scottish distillery has recently discovered a better system for distillation.

FAQ

What exactly has The GlenAllachie installed?
A Mechanical Vapour Recompression system, which recycles heat efficiently during the distilling process.
How much CO₂ is being saved?
The system will prevent 367 tons of CO₂ emissions annually, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 825 households. This allows the distillery to save approximately 90 percent of its energy.
What does this mean for the future of whisky production?
The GlenAllachie is positioning itself as a trailblazer in sustainable whisky production with no compromises on quality.

The GlenAllachie is more sustainable than ever

When you bring home a bottle of The GlenAllachie, you are assured of quality and craftsmanship honed over the years. Now, you can also add sustainability to that list as the brand becomes 90 percent more energy-efficient.

The Speyside distillery is among the first to install a system, known as a Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR), to save energy during distillation.

This innovative system reduces energy consumption by more than 90%. Every year, it saves 367 tons of CO₂, equivalent to the electricity consumption of approximately 825 households.

The technology re-utilizes heat during the distillation process. This means that vapor is captured and converted into reusable energy. This happens in two new 21,000-liter wash stills.

Whisky off the gas

The transition to the system also means that The GlenAllachie no longer uses natural gas. Instead, the distillery uses electricity generated by the newly installed solar panels.

Billy Walker, the owner of The GlenAllachie, explains that the pot stills were the most energy-intensive and with this upgrade, they are significantly more efficient.

‘It's not about increasing capacity, it's about the next chapter in the story of The GlenAllachie: quality, tradition, and innovation.’

- Billy Walker

Not only green benefits

The advantages of the new system extend beyond sustainability. Notably, this new system operates at a reasonably low noise level. With a maximum output of 78 decibels, it does not disturb distillery tours. Moreover, the system is easy to maintain and built for the future.

Next time you book a tour at The GlenAllachie, pay extra attention to the stills. By the end of 2025, the new system should be in operation.