Weakening global demand for Scotch whisky could put the brakes on Diageo’s plans to upgrade its northern distilleries as part of the business’s £1bn expansion plan announced in 2007.
What is being claimed as the most northerly gin distillery on mainland Britain was commissioned last month, following the installation of a new still - christened ‘Elizabeth’ - in the custom-built distillery at Dunnet, Caithness.
Diageo’s United Spirits has agreed to sell its whisky brand Whyte & Mackay to Philippines-based brandy business Emperador for £430M, following Office of Fair Trading (OFT) concerns.
The potato vodka firm set up by Tyrrells Crisps founder Will Chase is rapidly expanding its empire with the development of a tranche of new products including pressed apple juice and marmalade vodka.