Yorkshire distillery Cooper King has produced the first whisky in England distilled using net zero energy. Its inaugural whisky, First Edition – Fruit + Spice, is the first release in its Expedition Series and every energy-related greenhouse gas emission from its production has been removed from the atmosphere.

Just 589 bottles were produced from a vatting of whisky from six small oak casks, with every bottle already sold. Cooper King’s First Edition (48.1% ABV), dubbed ‘a journey of discovery through the finest casks in the warehouse’, benefits from hand-mashed, floor-malted heritage grains, which were copper pot distilled, matured and bottled at the distillery. The handcrafted whisky offers notes of dried citrus and golden syrup, with soft malt and warming spice.

Cooper King will donate £5 from every bottle of the expression to Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) to fund life-changing apprenticeships for young people in rural areas, to help protect vital UK habitats.  

Dr Abbie Jaume, Co-Founder, Cooper King Distillery commented: “Releasing our first ever whisky, especially one that has net zero energy status, is a huge milestone for us. The entire Cooper King team is committed to producing sustainable spirits distilled with craftsmanship, honesty and adventure. We hope our First Edition whisky release inspires other distilleries to invest in their own journey to net zero, so we can all play our part in decarbonising the spirits industry.”

First Edition follows the release of an exclusive whisky bottling from Cask No. 1, which was rewarded to Cooper King’s Founders’ Club members, who were instrumental in the distillery’s crowdfunding journey.