Working with the land and nature
As a farm distillery, sustainability at Lochlea begins with the land itself.
Our approach is shaped by practical farming knowledge and long-term stewardship supporting soil health, reduce waste and monitoring performance.
Traceable Ingredients
By growing our own barley and using water drawn from a borehole from an aquifer beneath the farm, we retain full traceability over the core ingredients used to make our
single malt whisky.
This approach reduces food miles and allows us to understand and take responsibility for every stage of production, from field to spirit.
Closing the loop
Barley production naturally creates by-products. At Lochlea, these are not wasted.
After harvest, barley straw is baled and used by neighbouring farmers to bed cattle through the winter. This straw returns to Lochlea as farmyard manure, a natural fertiliser that is spread back onto the barley fields in January and February prior to ploughing.
This adds organic matter to the soil, improves aeration, and supports soil microorganisms, including earthworms which play a vital role in long-term soil health.
Cover crops and soil care
Once harvest is complete, mustard and raddish cover crops are sown across the fields.
These crops help improve soil structure through their roots and create a protective leaf canopy to reduce soil erosion over the wet winter months. The cover crop is then grazed intensively by sheep for four to six weeks before being cultivated back into the soil.
This process adds organic material, improves soil condition and prepares the ground naturally for the next growing cycle.
Responsible use of by-products
Every stage of distillation produces by-products. At Lochlea, these are managed responsibly and locally.
Pot Ale
Pot ale is transported to a biogas plant, where bacteria consume it and release methane gas. This methane is then used to generate electricity, converting waste into energy.
Spent Lees
Spent lees are treated on site using an environmental treatment pond. These ponds contain specialist reeds and plants that naturally filter and break down the liquid until it becomes clean water, which is then safely discharged into the local burn.
This on-site treatment mitigates over 2,300 road miles per year, reducing transport emissions significantly.
Draff
The leftover barley husks from the mashing proceses known as draff is collected by local farmers and used as cattle feed, keeping nutrients within the local agricultural system.
Renewable energy on site
The energy generated is used directly by the distillery where possible, with surplus electricity exported back to the grid.
The business also chooses to buy only renewable electricity.
Sustainability as stewardship
Sustainability at Lochlea is not a finished project.
It is an ongoing responsibility shaped by seasons, experience, and careful observation. As farmers and distillers, our focus is on leaving the land in better condition than we found it, ensuring it remains productive and healthy for generations to come.
The Land Before the Whisky
A working farm shaped by generations, where place, patience, and stewardship set the foundation for everything that follows.
