Sustainable Spirits
![The biggest realization is that waste isn’t waste. By taking a holistic look at our food system, we are bridging gaps in the existing supply chain and handcrafting a product that adds value to our producers and customers. - Quote from CEO Emily Darchuk](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d15695623a2c4cf869b418/6643f8d9f13439c46044c1b0_Waste%20Quote%20new.png)
WHAT IS WHEY?
Whey is the liquid co-product of cheese and other dairy products.
For every 10 pounds of milk, a cheesemaker can produce 1 pound of cheese, leaving
9 pounds of high-quality whey behind.
While some of this high-quality whey gets used in other food products, hundreds of billions of pounds leave the food chain as waste, putting a strain on the ecosystem.
OUR SOLUTION
Where some see this whey as waste, we see liquid gold.
By partnering with domestic dairies, our handcrafted process is breaking the cycle by upcycling this whey to its highest and best use.
Our spirits prevent food waste with a lower carbon and water footprint to create bold, sustainable spirits for consumers who care, like you!
![Wheyward Spirit supply chain](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d15695623a2c4cf869b418/663d24446334009fd1d21e00_black%20supply%20chain.png)
![Wheyward Spirit supply chain](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d15695623a2c4cf869b418/664780d0657080bdbeee7409_RCM_%E2%94%AC%C2%AB_CMYK.png)
WHY WE upcyclE
Upcycling is the concept of utilizing ingredients that would otherwise leave the food chain to make high-quality products with a positive environmental impact.
We upcycle whey to handcraft our original Wheyward Spirit, then take it one step further by sustainably aging in recoopered barrels to create our Farm-to-Cask-to-Flask Wheyward Wheyskey.
Wheyward Spirit is a proud member of the Upcycled Food Association.
![Upcycled Food Association logo](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d15695623a2c4cf869b418/6643fa29815d3ac67cfb5555_UFA-Logos-Assocation-White-RGB%20(1).png)
upcycling is the future
30% to 40%
of all food produced in the US is lost or goes to waste, contributing to rising greenhouse gas emissions and increasing water scarcity.
8%
of human-caused greenhouse gas emissions come from food loss and waste. Reducing food waste is considered a top solution to climate change.
$285 billion
and area of agricultural land equivalent to California and New York is wasted as a result of food waste in the US.
![EPA Wasted Food Scale graphic showing that donating or upcycling food is one of the most preferred ways to reduce the environmental impacts of wasted food](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d15695623a2c4cf869b418/6647a943b96e61476f2069d2_EPA%20Food%20Scale.png)
By upcycling whey and building a circular economy approach in our production, Wheyward Spirit reduces the strain of food waste on the environment and lowers the impact of spirit production with lower carbon and water footprint compared to traditional spirits.
More consumers are looking for ways to reduce waste in their own lives, and government organizations like the UN, EPA, and USDA are enacting initiatives to tackle the issue head on.
A more sustainable cocktail doesn't end with a sustainable base spirit. Connect your bar to your kitchen with our collection of low-waste recipes that prioritizes using every part of your ingredients to make delicious upcycled cocktails and snacks.
![Cover of a digital cocktail recipe book titled "Venture Wheyward: Connecting The Kitchen To Cocktails Through Upcycling." The cover features the title and an image of a Manhattan cocktail, a bottle of Wheyward Wheyskey, a bottle of Wheyward Spirit, and a yellow cocktail, from left to right.](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/60d15695623a2c4cf869b418/66e9cdd39162b8f5f476cde2_Cover.png)