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One of Scotland’s smallest distilleries is working with Heriot-Watt scientists to find out whether aluminum could replace glass bottles for its Scotch whiskey.

Stirling Distillery is working with experts from the School of Engineering and Physical Sciences on the project, which investigates how whiskey behaves when stored in aluminum rather than traditional glass bottles.

Kathryn Holm from Stirling Distillery initiated the project. She said, "We want to make our distillery as sustainable as possible ahead of our first mature whiskey being released in 2027.

"The whiskey industry is looking at lots of ways to minimize its footprint. We’ve already undertaken a range of sustainability measures—packaging is one of the remaining areas where we can innovate and make an impact.

"Glass has long been central to whiskey’s image; it’s weighty, and evokes the craftsmanship of the spirit. But it is also heavy to transport and relies on high recycling rates to reduce its environmental impact. Aluminum is lighter and widely recycled, so I asked the experts to investigate whether it’s a viable alternative."

At Heriot-Watt, the researchers from the ICBD and Institute of Chemical Sciences combined advanced chemistry with sensory tests to assess whether aluminum interacts chemically with whiskey in a way that alters its flavor or, most importantly, raises safety concerns.

Spirit was put under the microscope

Spirit supplied by Stirling Distillery was placed in aluminum bottles and tested over several months.

Dr. Dave Ellis and his student, Charlotte York, tested the spirit using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, a technique that uses a powerful magnet combined with radiofrequency waves to identify what a substance is made of by measuring how its atoms respond, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, which detects levels of metals in liquids.

Ellis said, "We know that certain organic acids naturally present in matured whiskey can react with aluminum, which can lead to aluminum entering the liquid. If we stir samples with aluminum metal, the levels were well above what would be considered acceptable for drinking water."

The chemistry showed that compounds such as gallic acid, which develop during whiskey maturation, were reduced or removed after prolonged contact with aluminum. These reactions were much less pronounced in the new made spirit, which has not yet developed the same chemical profile.

Professor Annie Hill from Heriot-Watt’s ICBD said this highlighted why caution was essential. "Any innovation has to respect the craft of whiskey making while meeting the highest standards of safety. The aluminum cans we buy pulses and soup in all have liners to protect the contents from metal contamination.

"In this case, the liner within the can wasn’t sufficient to prevent aluminum from passing into the spirit. The next stage of this research would be to find a liner that can withstand high alcohol levels for a prolonged period of time without degrading."

Tasters couldn’t tell the difference

Professor Hill oversaw the sensory testing of the whiskey stored in aluminum, carried out by her student Andrew Marr. "Panelists couldn’t distinguish between whiskey stored in aluminum from whiskey stored in glass. So the changes detected in the laboratory didn’t translate into differences in aroma. That’s great news—if we can find an effective liner."

Holm said the work would be shared with the wider industry, which is under growing pressure to meet Scotland’s net zero targets while maintaining strict regulatory standards.

Holm said, "We are not suggesting glass disappears tomorrow. But offering customers a lower carbon option for a premium product is something worth exploring. As a small distillery, we can help start that conversation."

More information

Aluminium Whisky Project: stirlingdistillery.com/pages/sustainability

Citation: Greener whisky bottles made with aluminum could replace glass (2026, January 19) retrieved 19 January 2026 from https://phys.org/news/2026-01-greener-whisky-bottles-aluminum-glass.html

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