Ardnamurchan Debuts World's First Single Malt in PET Bottle

Aligning with Norway's Low-Carbon Packaging Policy and Deposit Return Scheme: Sustainability Meets Regulatory Standards

Scottish Highland distillery Ardnamurchan has announced the launch of a 500ml recyclable PET plastic bottle for its flagship single malt whisky, AD/, tailored for the Norwegian market. This pioneering move marks the world's first Scotch single malt whisky packaged in a deposit-return PET plastic bottle.

The whisky recipe inside this PET bottle is identical to the standard glass bottle edition, crafted from a blend of peated and unpeated Highland single malt whiskies matured in bourbon and sherry casks.

Partnering with Norway's Monopoly to Drive Carbon Reduction

Vinmonopolet, Norway's state-owned alcoholic beverage monopoly, stated that this bottling is part of its ongoing carbon reduction packaging strategy. For years, the monopoly has encouraged alcohol suppliers to adopt low-carbon formats such as lightweight glass, PET, aluminium cans, and recyclable pouches; combining single malt Scotch with the national deposit return scheme represents a brand-new milestone.

Graeme Mackay, International Sales Manager at Ardnamurchan, noted that Norway boasts an impressive packaging recycling rate of 90% to 98%. When the monopoly issued a tender requiring a 500ml PET specification, it aligned seamlessly with the distillery's sustainability values. Located in the western Highlands, Ardnamurchan operates entirely on 100% local forestry biomass fuel and deploys multiple innovative technologies to minimize its environmental footprint.

Compliance with Scotch Whisky Regulations and Brand Growth

Although the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) mandates that single malt whisky must be bottled in Scotland, the regulations only require the container to be made of an 'inert material', without restricting it strictly to traditional glass. PET is stable and chemically inert, considerably lighter than glass, requires less energy to produce, and is far less prone to breakage during transit.

Founded in 2014, Ardnamurchan launched its maiden single malt whisky in 2020. Alongside its flagship AD/, the distillery produces various limited editions as well as its annual regular release, The Midgie series.

📅 Published Date: 2026-09-07

🔗 Source: The Spirits Business