The SWA’s new environmentally friendly proposals are simply to export the plastic overseas - inside the wooden casks traditionally used for maturing Scotch Whisky.

The controversial new idea is for wooden casks to be lined internally with the plastic before Scotch Whisky is put in them and exported. 90% of all whisky is shipped abroad.

Controversial new regulations will become law later this year making it illegal for anyone to export Scotch Whisky  in old fashioned wooden casks with out the addition of plastic.

The new ‘plasti-casks’ will look exactly the same as traditional ones, and “Made in China” will be very discretely stamped on the under side.

An unexpected benefit is the plastic lining will prevent any further maturation of the spirit, while also preventing any losses from evaporation - the legendary Angel’s Share.

Mark Reynier of Islay’s Bruichladdich Distillery disagrees with the idea: “to foreign Customs, it will look like a plain wooden cask. No one will know the plastic is inside.”

“Like many of these SWA regulations they are half-baked ideas. I mean how exactly are  you meant to get the plastic inside the casks when the whisky’s already in there?”

“Like ‘blended malt’ it has not been thought through. We found M & S bags best. But sadly there’s no M & S on the island so we are experimenting with rolls of baling plastic.”

Critics argue that simply exporting the plastic problem over seas is irresponsible and point out that the plastic will melt when crossing the equator, ruining the taste of the whisky.

The Draft Regulations “Annexe A Draft Scotch Whisky Regulations 2008” are available on DEFRA’s website:

http://www.defra.gov.uk/corporate/consult/whisky-regs08/index.htm

Click on: Draft SI  and go to page 6,  Regulation 7

The Regulation 7 on Export says:

(1) A person must not export any single malt scotch whisky from Scotland to any other country otherwise than in a bottle or ceramic container that is labelled for retail sale.  (1) a person must not export any of the following  whiskies from Scotland to another country in a wooden cask or other wooden holder -

Single Grain scotch Whisky

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

Blended Scotch Whisky

(2) But paragraph (1) shall not prevent a person exporting any Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, or Blended Scotch Whisky from Scotland to another country in a wooden cask or other wooden holder that  is lined with plastic or another inert material.