GlenAllachie installs next-gen energy tech in distillation overhaul
The GlenAllachie Distillery has partnered with Briggs of Burton to install heat-recovery technology, cutting energy use in distillation by over 90%.
The GlenAllachie Distillery has reached a key stage in its ongoing expansion with the installation of a new energy-efficient distillation system, developed in partnership with engineering firm Briggs of Burton.
The project, backed by the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF), involves fitting two 21,000-litre wash stills with Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) technology. The system, branded as BRIGGS ThermoDrive, is designed to recycle heat from the distillation process, delivering energy savings of over 90%.
Installation of the next-generation system is now underway, with the distillery on track to launch the new setup in 2025. GlenAllachie expects the MVR technology to save 367 tonnes of CO₂e per year – the equivalent annual electricity use of nearly 825 homes.
Dr Ben Connolly, lead R&D Engineer at Briggs of Burton, said the installation represents “a real step forward for sustainable distilling.” He added: “The system has been specifically designed to achieve exceptional energy savings and integrate seamlessly into existing stillhouses.”
Beyond efficiency gains, the system also brings practical benefits. Operating at noise levels below 78 dB, it allows distillery tours to continue undisturbed. It is also ATEX-rated for safety and designed for ease of maintenance and long-term use.
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Moving away from gas
The GlenAllachie’s owner, veteran whisky maker Billy Walker, said improving pot still efficiency is key to cutting the distillery’s carbon footprint: “With around 60% of our total energy consumption linked to our pot stills, improving efficiency in this area is a priority. This system will allow us to move away from gas and instead use electricity, which is both more efficient and has a lower environmental impact (on a green tariff).”
Walker also noted that the distillery has installed solar panels to further reduce reliance on fossil fuels.
“This is not about increasing capacity,” he said. “It’s about building the next chapter of The GlenAllachie’s legacy, rooted in quality, tradition, and innovation.”
Wider push for distilling decarbonisation
The project is part of a broader trend within Scotch whisky to retrofit sustainable technologies into both existing and new sites. Briggs of Burton continues to support distilleries across Scotland and beyond with energy-saving systems, including its ThermoStore hot water storage and ThermoJet thermal vapour recompression units. At other distilleries, these systems have already delivered energy savings of more than 40% at the wash distillation stage.
The new MVR setup at The GlenAllachie is one of the most ambitious examples of these technologies being deployed at scale.
The development adds to a strong run for The GlenAllachie, which recently launched the sixth edition of its 21-year-old Cask Strength series and won World’s Best Single Malt at the 2025 World Whiskies Awards for its 12-year-old bottling. The distillery is also planning to expand warehousing to meet growing demand.
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