Whistling Andy Distillery was awarded the inaugural Eco-Award for its innovative paperboard spirits bottle at the American Craft Spirits Association Convention.

Whistling Andy developed the Spirit of Sperry bottle, which is made from 100% recycled paperboard, in partnership with KinsBrae Packaging Group in Canada and TricorBraun in Portland. This is the first year the American Craft Spirits Association presented an Eco-Award as part of its annual Packaging Awards competition. More than 350 distillers from around the United States attended the convention held earlier this month in in Sacramento, California. 

Gabe Spencer, head distiller and general distillery manager at Whistling Andy, said the bottle was inspired by a trip to Europe. In the airport, he noticed a cardboard wine bottle. He researched the design and found that while cardboard bottles were common in Europe, there were no U.S. manufacturers creating a similar product. 

A little more research led Spencer north of the border to the Ontario-based KinsBrae Packaging Group, which specializes in innovative and sustainable packaging. Spencer reached out and began working with KinsBrae, along with TricorBraun, to bring the paperboard bottle to Montana and the United States.  

Spencer said the distillery’s award-winning huckleberry vodka was the obvious choice for the first paperboard bottle because “when you think of Montana you think of huckleberries.” The bright pink packaging, which debuted in July 2025, is eye-catching and surprises first-time customers who are expecting a standard glass bottle.  

“People ask, ‘Is there even any alcohol in here?’” Spencer said. “Absolutely. It just weighs one-sixth less than what you’re used to.” 

Weighing in at just 80 grams, compared to a 500-gram glass bottle, the paperboard bottle has a foil liner similar to that of a boxed wine. The design is shatterproof, which is great news for Montana’s outdoor enthusiasts who don’t have to worry about broken glass at the lake or in the backcountry.  

The bottle is also more sustainable than glass bottles, according to KinsBrae. The design emits up to 84% less carbon and uses four times less water than glass. It also uses 77% less plastic than a recycled plastic bottle, while the lighter weight makes shipping and storage more efficient.  

None of this affects the shelf life of the spirits, which keeps for more than two years when stored correctly.  

Whistling Andy isn’t planning to completely replace its bottles with paperboard, according to Spencer. Glass makes more sense for his bartenders pouring drinks in the distillery, but the distillery plans to expand the number of spirits offered in the alternative packaging.  

Spencer, who didn’t know the Eco-Award would debut at this year’s awards when he submitted the design for consideration, said the award is evidence that world-class spirits don’t have to come at a cost to the environment.  

For Montanans who enjoy craft spirits and live for the river, summit and trail, he hopes the lightweight, compostable bottle “weighs less on your pack and the planet.” 

    Whistling Andy's innovative paperboard bottle is lightweight, compostable and designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind. The bottle won the inaugural Eco-Award at the American Craft Spirits Association Convention April 18. (Courtesy Whistling Andy)