Sustainable drinks and sustainability are not just buzz words. Next time you’re spoilt for choice of what to pour into your glass, why not go in for a tipple that’s kind to your palate as well as the planet? Read on for Luxuriate Life’s guide to our favourite eco-friendly sips and let us whet your appetite with drinks that deliver on great taste and great ethics.
Coravin Sparkling™ Sparkling Wine Preservation System
In the UK alone, around 50 million litres of wine are poured down the sink annually – that’s enough to fill 333 Olympic-sized swimming pools. October 2021 will see the launch of one of the most exciting innovations in wine, that will transform how we can enjoy champagne and sparkling wine at home. Coravin, a company on a mission to change the way we experience wine, has created Coravin Sparkling, a first of its kind product that which will end all attempts of the many mythical solutions we currently use (such as spoons placed in open bottles!) to maintain the fizz in sparkling wine. The sparkling wine preservation system retains the flavour and effervescence of sparkling wines for two weeks, meaning we can now enjoy sparkling wine by the glass without affecting the rest of the bottle. Genius.
From – Coravin
Price | £399
Whitley Neill Gin
Whitley Neill Gin is a premium handcrafted artisanal gin range dating back to 1762, distilled at the multi-award-winning City of London Distillery. As well as a classic London Dry gin, there is an exciting range of flavoured gins inspired by the tastes from around the world.
Sustainability is very high on the agenda for Whitley Neill and the rest of the brands in the Halewood Artisanal Spirits family. Throughout the entire portfolio, they are dedicated to driving change through renewable energy solutions, waste management and focusing on using smart materials across all elements of the business. Whitley Neill Gin has been a proud partner of Tree Aid since 2006, working with communities across the drylands of Africa to grow trees and tackle the effects of the climate crisis.
From – Whitley Neill
Price | From £18
Plymouth Gin
Plymouth Gin draws on the surrounding land, water, and traditions to create a no-fuss, no-nonsense gin. Committed to sustainability, the distillery is 100% powered by hydro-electricity, and all gin botanicals are recycled via an anaerobic digestion power plant to turn waste into energy. The Plymouth Gin bottle was recently reimagined to ensure it is produced in the most considered way. While retaining its iconic bottle shape, it is now 100% recyclable, has a reduced weight, and all single-use plastic packaging has been removed.
From – Amazon
Price | RRP £26.99
Hepple Spirits Gift Box
This elegant gift set from one of the world’s most exciting spirits distilleries is also super sustainable. The team at Hepple have designed their own glassware to help experience the perfect Hepple martini serve. These modern glasses are a beautiful yet functional addition to any cocktail lovers’ home bar. Included in the elegant box is a 50cl bottle of your choice from the Hepple Spirits repetoire, two specially designed crystal martini glasses which have been beautifully etched with the Hepple juniper sprig motif and a selection of specially created cocktail cards to help experimentation.
The Hepple Spirits Juniper Trust has also been launched to support the revitalisation of Gin’s most vital ingredient: juniper. The Trust’s ambition is to see natural regeneration of this iconic, botanically important wayfarer of wild England.
From – Hepple Spirits
Price | £60
Bullards
Bullards Spirits is a historic, Norwich-distilled gin that is leading the drinks business in sustainability with the innovative Eco-Refill Pouch and Bottle for Life concept. Bullards Spirits encourages the single purchase of their Bottle For Life, with subsequent purchases of the gin then bought in a recyclable Eco-Refill Pouch, with Bullards Spirits partnering with Terracycle and Royal Mail, so empty pouches can be returned by Freepost – simple pop it back in the postbox back to the distillery with ease. Gins in their collection include the Coastal Gin (w/ botanicals foraged from the coast of Norfolk), Strawberry and Black Pepper Gin (which features a whole punnet of strawberries), Old Tom Gin (the natural sweetness comes from Norfolk honey) London Dry Gin (which won the World Gin Awards in 2017) and their newest gin with pineapply, ginger and lime.
Bullards welcomed a new flagship gin shop and tasting room at 28 Henrietta Street, Covent Garden. The larger flagship site remains as a joint initiative with Bullard’s partner Double Dutch tonics and continues to offer drop-in gin sensory experiences.
From – Bullards Spirits
Price | £35 (70cl refillable pouch)
G’Vine Floraison
This gin is made from grapes which gives a smoother finish. It also contains vine flower to add floral notes, handpicked once a year in mid-June when the vine flower blossoms for just a few days to preserve its delicate fragrance. Created in 2006 by Jean-Sébastien Robicquet. this gin is made from grapes which results in a more fresh, smooth and rounded taste.
From – Master of Malt
Price | £37.50
Koskenkorva Vodka Climate Action
Not only does this special bottle contain a smooth single-estate vodka from the Nordics, but it’s incredibly sustainable, as it’s made from a unique method using regeneratively-farmed barley that helps fight climate change. The only barley-based vodka in the world that’s made this way.
Smooth and creamy, with peppery spice throughout the palette, the one-of-a-kind method produces a premium taste that has already got London’s best bartenders buzzing. But better still, its regenerative farming aims to remove CO2 from the atmosphere and store it in the ground, creating carbon sinks that reduce the impact of climate change. The process improves biodiversity, stops nutrients leaking into water bodies and provides better crops at the same time. The ambition? To make Koskenkorva the most sustainable vodka in the world – and to lay claim to carbon-neutral production by 2025.
From – Master of Malt
Price | £22.95
Green Man Wildwood Vodka
Silent Pool Distillers have launched their Green Man Wildwood Vodka, part of their admired Green Man Spirits collection, packaged in a 94% recyclable cardboard bottle with up to six timeless less carbon footprint than glass bottling. With up to six times lower carbon footprint than glass packaging, the launch sees Green Man Spirits embody the power of nature and the free spirit of the forest.
Highlighting the high value placed by the distillers on caring for nature, every online purchase of Green Man Vodka made will contribute to the brand’s partnership with Tree Nation. Customers can offset their personal CO2 by choosing a tree, plus its planting location, for Silent Pool to plant on their behalf.
From – Silent Pool
Price | £30
Barra Atlantic Gin
Barra Atlantic Gin is distilled from 17 handpicked botanicals. Born from the island, every drop is distilled, bottled and labelled on the Isle of Barra. Barra Atlantic’s main botanical is carrageen seaweed, collected wild, and sustainably, from the
shores surrounding the island, creating a bold flavour rich in maritime notes.
Sustainability is at the forefront of everything they do; from being mindful of the sustainable way they forage, to how they create, bottle, package and ship their spirits. The distillery’s definition of sustainability is meeting their own needs, without compromising the ability of future generations to meet theirs.
From – Isle of Barra Distillers
Price | £37
The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao
The Macallan has unveiled The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao, the first limited edition whisky in an innovative new series of single malts that will see the brand progress its journey towards sustainable packaging. Inspired by The Macallan’s deep-rooted connection to nature for nearly 200 years, The Harmony Collection is an exploration into the world of sustainable packaging, which will fuse innovative techniques with materials from the natural world at the end of their life to see them reborn with a renewed purpose.
Rich Cacao, is crafted from a harmonious combination of European and American sherry seasoned casks with an exceptional deep, dark chocolate profile, which pairs well with the richest chocolate for a multi sensory experience. The Macallan Harmony Collection Rich Cacao is encased in a beautiful fully recyclable and biodegradable presentation box, made using natural by-products in the chocolate-making process. Crafted using discarded husks from cacao pods, this move towards sustainable packaging is one of the many actions The Macallan is taking to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030, bringing together their renowned craftsmanship with contemporary packaging techniques aimed at minimising waste.
From – The Macallan
Price | £115
Heroes & Heretics
Heroes & Heretics supply a diverse range of single cask and small batch whiskies, rums and hard seltzers. The team are currently creating a marketing campaign using empty whisky bottles (that otherwise would have been thrown away) with the whole premise being to create sustainable marketing and to raise awareness for recycling. A must try is the The Classic Series, a 12 year old Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky made in small batches.
From – Heroes & Heretics
Price | Varies
Whitebox canned cocktails
Whitebox’s ethos is that convenience cocktails can be truly excellent, and has developed a bespoke production process and approach to ingredients in order to make the best possible versions of cocktails in cans, which started with the much loved Pocket Negroni. The team at Whitebox have now launched eight completely different cocktails in dinky little 100ml cans including a Cherry Wood Old Fashioned, and a clever little martini that not only packs a punch but is designed to be stored in the freezer, as well as a selection of long serves.
Cans are 90% more recyclable than glass and you can place the cardboard packaging into your mixed recycling. If a can has a label, removing it and disposing of it separately will help your local recycling company to recycle them too.
From – Whitebox
Price | From £18 (6 cans)
Heads + Tails
Heads + Tails is an award-winning cocktail bar based in North West London crafting the finest premium cocktails since 2018 and started bottling a select few in 2020 for customers to enjoy at home. Locality is key here and the quality of the cocktails is superb. The nine premium small batch cocktails include classics, fruity cocktails and more punchy drinks. Twists on classics include a Maple Old Fashioned: A maple-sweetened take on the classic Old Fashioned with caramelised flavours of burnt wood with a delicate and aromatic vanilla finish.
From – Heads + Tails
Price | Varies
Belvedere Vodka – Belvedere Organic Infusions
Belvedere Vodka’s first certified organic spirit is made with nature and created from organic Polish Rye vodka, infused with organic fruits and botanicals. There are three flavours in the Organic Infusions range, including: Lemon & Basil with a touch of Elderflower, Pear & Ginger with a drop of Linden Honey and Blackberry & Lemongrass with a hint of Sage.
Belvedere Organic Infusions are the brand’s first certified organic spirits, meaning all ingredients are farmed without artificial pesticides, additives, or chemicals. This allows the natural taste of each ingredient to shine through and their true character to come to life in the vodka.
From – Amazon UK
Price | From £34.24
Hattiers Rum
It’s good to buy some quality rum from a company who has their priorities straight. Not only do they strive to make great products for us to sip but they have joined the plethora of likeminded businesses taking the “quadruple bottom line approach” of People, Planet, Profit and Purpose using business as a force for good.
Hattiers Rum’s ‘Eminence’ is a smooth, light-medium bodied, dry, blended aged white rum. With light and attractive soft fruit notes and a vanilla pod, creamy fudge and ripe pineapple aroma, ‘Eminence’ has been filtered to remove colour leaving a crystal clear rum.
With great depth of flavour and character, ‘Eminence’ has a fruity taste and is not sweet but enjoys a gentle nutty pineapple aftertaste and long cream finish.
From – Hattiers
Price | £37.50
Two Drifters Distillery
Two Drifters has recently rebranded to further support their eco credentials of being the world’s most sustainable rum brand. In addition to their existing carbon negative production, they have also now launched a low carbon emissions website and an organic merchandise range, with products created using 100% renewable energy. The four-strong range features Signature Rum, White Rum, Lightly Spice Rum and Overproof Spiced Pineapple Rum.
Bottles are now made with a natural cork with FSC wooden top, 100% compostable tamper seal and paper labels made from 95% sugarcane fibre and 5% hemp and linen with a plant-based adhesive.
From – Two Drifters Rum
Price | £40
Naturally Aspirated Wine
West London’s one-stop-shop for natural wine and a curated selection of fine snacks and groceries serves the growing demand for natural wine, a term that covers organic, bio-dynamic and fully natural wine, all wines sold by Naturally Aspirated Wine are low sulphur and from small producers. The stock list features red, white, rosé, sparkling and orange wine, alongside ciders, spirits and local beers. The objective is to offer a wide range of approachable options for those new to natural wine, as well as a curated selection of more adventurous choices for those seeking something new.
From – Naturally Aspirated Wine
Price | varies
Villa Maria wines
Villa Maria has award-winning vineyards and is heavily focussed on its sustainable goals, taking steps towards zero waste and reducing carbon emissions. The current selection consists of a range of premium whites and reds including a Single Vineyard Taylors Pass Sauvignon Blanc and a delicious Reserve Pinot Noir.
In addition to organic practices, Villa Maria instils sustainability in every area of its business. All the packaging for every single bottle of Villa Maria wine is sourced within 22km of the Auckland Estate to reduce carbon emissions. All Villa Maria wines are in New Zealand-made bottles with an average of 69% recycled glass.
From – Villa Maria Wines
Price | From £11.40
Sea Change – ethically sourced eco-friendly wines
The aptly named Sea Change produces fine eco-friendly wines whilst also determined to protect our oceans from plastic pollution. So with every bottle of Sea Change bought, it funds ocean conservation projects across the globe and their minimal packaging reduces waste and their environmental impact.
Try their Organic Red – Sea Change Bobal hailing from the sun-soaked vineyards of Valencia. It balances intensity with vibrant flavours of red and black fruit such as cherry, raspberry and blackcurrant. Their Organic White – Sea Change Chardonnay – also originates in Spain brining a balanced combination of aromas and tastes to create a light yet fruity wine.
As with all Sea Change Wines, both have minimal packaging, with the unnecessary plastic wrap covering removed from the neck of the bottle, and labels.
From – Sea Change Wine
Price | £13.99
Villa Maria – Villa Maria EarthGarden Sauvignon Blanc 2020
After 21 years of growing grapes organically, iconic New Zealand winery Villa Maria launched ‘EarthGarden’ – its first organic wine range – to meet the rising global demand for sustainable drinks. This also forms part of the Villa Maria’s commitment to converting 100% of its company vineyards to be organically managed by 2030. EarthGarden is the culmination of a two-decade long journey of discovery in some of New Zealand’s best wine regions. 100%
BioGro certified, the range includes Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020, Hawke’s Bay Rosé 2020, Marlborough Pinot Noir 2019 and Hawke’s Bay Merlot Cabernet Sauvignon 2019.
From – Tesco
Price | £10.50
Danebury Madeleine Angevine
Madeleine Angevine is a white wine grape originally from the Loire Valley, which is popular for wine producing in the UK. It has the advantage of being early ripening and grows well in cooler climates. Madeleine Angevine makes an attractive fruity, yet dry wine, with a flowery nose similar to Alsation Pinot Blanc with a refreshing finish; it makes a perfect aperitif or pairs with chicken, seafood (such as scallops and crayfish) or charcuterie and patés.
Danebury is a single estate vineyard, which focuses on limited production of quality wine, working with nature in the vineyard, harvesting by hand and using minimal intervention wine making techniques.
From – The General Wine Company
Price | £11.99
The Grange
The Grange’s vineyard were planted in 2011 and they are founder members of the Sustainable Wines of Great Britain scheme which audits its members to ensure continuous improvements in vineyard management.
Since their first release in 2018, their wines have accumulated one platinum medal, five gold medals and fourteen silver medals, testament not only to the excellence of the winemaking and the vineyard’s terrain, but also proof that sustainable viticulture can produce wines of the highest quality.
From – The Grange
Price | £62 for two bottles
Binary Botanical
Binary Botanical is a beer for wine-lovers and makes a refreshing alternative to a glass of wine. Binary is infused with hop leaves, a waste product in hop production to create a tangy, almost Prosecco-like, low-calorie alternative to our grape-crushing friend – wine. Sustainable and delicious, chefs and sommeliers love this moreish, unique beverage.
Drink from a stemmed glass or mix with a slice of cucumber, a sprig of rosemary and dash of sugar syrup to produce a refreshing cocktail.
From – Binary Botanical
Price | £24 for 10 x 330 ml
Whitley Neill Gin
Founded by eighth generation distiller Johnny Neill in 2005, the brand is very conscious of the need to reduce impact on the environment. All their bottles are made by using recycled and recyclable glass and they are dedicated to driving change through renewable energy solutions and waste management. They are a proud partner of Tree Aid and work with communities across the drylands of Africa to grow trees and tackle the effects on the climate crisis. From January 2021, Whitley Neill Gin is now produced at the multi-awarding-winning City of London Distillery, making it one of the only gin brands to be distilled within the Square Mile, maintaining the rich history of gin production in London.
From: Sainsbury’s
Price | £26
Fireheart Coffee
The new roasters in town, Fireheart Coffee are really disrupting the daily brew with the launch of their plastic free, gluten free, GM free Nespresso compatible compostable coffee pods. Made out of VEGEMAT® these 100% vegetable pods are the latest innovation from this straightforward subscription service. They already deliver their fresh and seasonal beans in recyclable packaging, so have just notched up their environmental credentials by ticking all the right sustainable drink boxes for the planet.
From – Fireheart Coffee
Price | £16.96
Don’t forget the gorgeous glassware
Untitled Drinks
Untitled Drinks provide next day national delivery of some of the finest cocktails from London’s famous trio of bars – Bar Termini, 69 Colebrooke Row and Untitled Bar. Whether you’re looking to impress your next at-home-date, bougie up your evening in front of the TV or entertain friends, there’s no need to fuss with an array of bottles, ingredients and recipes – just chill, pour and serve a perfectly balanced negroni, martini, Manhattan, old fashioned – and more. For those who take cocktail drinking seriously – Untitled Drinks also offer a range of bespoke, handmade cocktail glassware to perfectly complement your at-home drinking experience.
All imagery courtesy of the brands featured.