Few people know more about fine whiskey than the Scots, so it came as a bit of a shock to hear that a group of Scottish scientists have developed a process for turning one their finest exports into something that can run your car.

Don't worry, they're not pouring bottles of 15 year old Laphroaig into their gas tanks. The fuel is created from two byproducts of the distilling process, 'pot ale' and 'draff', which after processing become butanol. This can then be used to run most car engines without modification.

The researchers from Edinburgh Napier University say that the butanol can be used straight up, or you can create a cocktail by cutting it with regular gas or Diesel.

Let's just hope it doesn't make you smell like you've had a wee dram yourself.

PhysOrg, via PopSci