LEXINGTON, Ky., Nov. 16, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Today,
Bulleit Frontier Whiskey announced that its pledge to
plant one million trees over five years alongside partner
American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation
organization in the United States,
is nearing the halfway mark towards its goal. Following a
successful first year of collaborative efforts, the brand is
determined to continue battling climate change by means of
reforestation efforts, strengthening its ongoing commitment to
forging a more sustainable future.
Together, Bulleit and American Forests have thus far helped
restore over 300 acres of oak forest – equivalent to nearly 230
football fields – in a combined effort to reforest landscapes
home to the great white oak. Bulleit has emphasized white oak
restoration, because they are a cornerstone species of forests in
the Eastern United States that are
essential to the future of so many industries, including the
whiskey industry. By definition, bourbon must be aged in new
charred oak barrels, which help give the liquor its color and
taste. Once a Bulleit barrel is used to age the award-winning
liquid, the life cycle continues with most barrels being used for
years to come, aging other spirits like scotch, rum, and tequila.
In addition to the amazing smells and flavors provided to a glass
of bourbon, white oak forests offer immediate benefits to the local
environment through carbon sequestration, the enhancement of air
quality and conservation of water resources.
"Bulleit's commitment to a more sustainable future is and
always has been an integral pillar of the brand," said
Ricky Collett, Global and US Brand
Director of Bulleit Frontier Whiskey, Diageo North America.
"We're proud that our partnership with American Forests is
helping make a positive impact on the environment, and we remain
committed to making meaningful differences in the years to
come."
Since the partnership's inception in 2020, 427,825 seedlings
have been planted, providing projected environmental benefits
including:
- Carbon Sequestration:
-
- By the time they're fifty years old, the forests planted thus
far will have stored 55,557 metric tons of carbon dioxide
equivalent in their roots, stems, and trunks. This is equivalent to
the emissions from burning 6.3 million gallons of gasoline,
or the emissions from the energy use in 6,690 American
homes.*
- Air Quality:
-
- The trees will eventually remove 18,847 pounds of air
pollutants such as ozone, smoke, dust and particulate matter,
per year. This is the equivalent of taking 288 cars off the road
annually.**
- Water Conservation:
-
- These trees will capture, store and filter 27 million gallons
of water a year, equal to the volume of water stored by 41
Olympic swimming pools.**
"The impact that Bulleit has made in restoring oak forests in
only one year is astounding," says Jad Daley, president and chief executive officer
of American Forests. "The company's commitment to healthier
forests is now extending into our Tree Equity work, and we are
thrilled to have them as a partner in ensuring that people in all
neighborhoods experience the benefits trees provide, no matter
where they live."
The partnership has continued to evolve in its second year as
Bulleit has expanded its support to include American Forests' Tree
Equity program, by planting trees in neighborhoods that need them
the most. Trees provide many benefits, but not all neighborhoods
have enough of them. Tree Equity ensures that all people can
experience the benefits trees provide. The Bulleit brand's first
Tree Equity event took place in its home state of Kentucky on November
12. Bulleit supported the planting of trees in downtown
Louisville, which will increase
Tree Equity and provide a range of benefits to people who live and
work in the area. The trees planted will provide shade and cool
neighborhood temperatures, in addition to filtering water and
removing pollutants from the air – a benefit especially important
to the Louisville planting site,
which is located near several expressways.
Sustainability continues to be a priority for both Bulleit and
parent company, Diageo, who most recently announced the opening
of its first carbon neutral distillery in Lebanon, KY producing American whiskey brands,
leading with Bulleit Bourbon.
Bulleit reminds consumers to both drink and live responsibly, as
we work together to help preserve natural resources for generations
to come.
*Estimates for carbon storage are derived from USDA Forest
Service 'Forest Inventory and Analysis' data, and emissions
equivalency data from the US Environmental Protection Agency's
'Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator'
**Estimates
derived from average per-acre values in each project location using
iTree County and iTree Landscapes.
ABOUT BULLEIT FRONTIER WHISKEY
Bulleit, founded in
1987, is one of the fastest-growing whiskeys in America. The brand
attributes that growth to bartenders and cultural partners who have
adopted it as their own. The Bulleit Frontier Whiskey portfolio is
distilled and aged in the Bulleit family tradition, using a
distinctive high rye recipe, which gives them a bold, spicy, yet
distinctively smooth taste. The
award-winning Kentucky whiskey most recently won a Double
Gold medal for Bulleit 10 Year Old and Gold Medals for Bulleit
Bourbon and Bulleit Rye at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits
Competition. In 2017, Bulleit celebrated its 30th anniversary with
the opening of a new, state-of-the-art distillery located
in Shelbyville, KY. Constructed with a focus on sustainable
practices including natural habitat protection, water conservation
and local ingredient sourcing, BDC received the Highly Commended
award for Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the 2020 Icons of
Whisky Awards from Whisky Magazine. In 2019, a Visitor's Centre at
the Bulleit Distilling Co. in Shelbyville opened to share
our modern, technological and sustainable approach to making great
whiskey. For more information, visit www.bulleit.com or
follow @Bulleit on Instagram.
ABOUT DIAGEO NORTH AMERICA
Diageo is a global
leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands
including Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, Bulleit
and Buchanan's whiskies, Smirnoff, Cîroc and Ketel One
vodkas, Casamigos, DeLeon and Don Julio tequilas, Captain
Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.
Diageo is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange
(NYSE: DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (LSE: DGE) and their
products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world.
For more information about Diageo, their people, brands, and
performance, visit www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo's global
responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com, for
information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice. Follow
at Twitter and Instagram for news and information about Diageo
North America: @Diageo_NA.
ABOUT AMERICAN FORESTS
American Forests, the oldest national nonprofit conservation
organization in the United States,
has been the pathfinder for creating healthy forests from coast to
coast. The organization creates healthy and resilient forests in
cities and large natural landscapes, that deliver essential
benefits for climate, people, water and wildlife. The
organization is driven by the power of forests to address two of
the most pressing issues of the day: slowing climate change and
advancing social equity. American Forests advances its mission
through forestry innovation, place-based partnerships to plant and
restore forests, and movement building. We envision a world in
which the significant environmental, societal and economic benefits
of forests are fully realized and equitably available to all
people. Learn more at https://www.americanforests.org/.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Bulleit, Taylor:
Bulleit@TaylorStrategy.com
Michele Kurtz, American Forests:
Mkurtz@americanforests.org
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SOURCE Diageo