Turning Cotswolds whisky waste into a brand new wildlife haven

Cotswolds Distillery has launched a new bio-diverse wetlands ecological treatment system on its distillery site that turns whisky waste into a wildlife sanctuary.

It will also reduce distillery waste by tens of thousands of litres per week.

Funded by investors Berry Bros & Rudd, the wetlands will naturally process three quarters of the waste water from the distillery’s whisky making, creating a bio-diverse habitat for local wildlife as well as reducing the amount of tanker trucks and local traffic.

The project began in May 2023, with Living Water Ecosystems and RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold-medal winner, Rachael White Designs, constructing the new ecological treatment facility.

It forms a system of cells covering nearly two acres of former marshland at the distillery site that processes both the spent lees, the residual liquid left in the still after the second distillation and wash water waste, water used in the plant for rinsing tanks, floors and cleaning maintenance.

The system uses a variety of plants and their natural biological processes to break down the chemical compounds deemed as contaminants in the waste streams.

It has been carefully designed with multiple stages of plants, which were bedded in August 2023 to acclimatise, and have now begun processing waste liquid from the whisky making.

The clean water from this new treatment system will be used to grow a coppice of willows to provide undisturbed shelter and habitat for wildlife.

The new wetlands site also includes a large area of untouched grassland and a wildflower area for pollinators and visitors to enjoy, as well as two new beehives to boost the pollinator population.

In time, bird boxes will be installed, along with pathways for visitors.

Cotswolds Distillery founder, Dan Szor, said: 'We have been looking for ways to improve our waste management and a wetlands treatment system seemed like the perfect solution.

'Hopefully it will reinforce our position as a force for good within our local community as it allows us to be more environmentally friendly by cutting down on waste and waste transportation and at the same time creating a haven for wildlife.'

Cotswolds Distillery was founded in 2014 with a focus on premium small-batch gin and single malt whisky made with local ingredients. 

Located in Stourton, in Shipston-on-Stour, Cotswolds Distillery is the largest producer of English whisky as well as a Cotswolds attraction, offering tours and tastings.

The distillery, which also has two stores in Broadway and Bourton-on-the-Water, receives more than 100,000 visitors a year.

In June 2024, it was named as the most popular whisky distillery in the UK and Ireland for the second year running in the The Cask Connoisseur 2024 Whisky Index.