Spencerfield Spirit Company has a new exclusive distribution agreement with Ian MacLeod Distillers for its brands Edinburgh Gin, Sheep Dip and Pig’s Nose Whisky. Neil Boyd, UK Commercial Director for Ian Macleod Distillers comments, “We are delighted to add Spencerfield products to the Ian MacLeod portfolio, these brands are complementary to our existing portfolio.” He [...]

Burn Stewart Distillers has been sold for $244m (£160m) to South African drinks company Distell Group, who acquired 100% of the share capital of Burn Stewart from sellers CL World Brands Ltd and Angostura Ltd in a deal brokered by DLA Piper Scotland. Distell is one of Africa’s leading producers and marketers of spirits, fine [...]

It’s Europe vs. North America in this second Auchentoshan Switch, a bartender talent search presented by Auchentoshan® which allows two winning mixologists to literally “switch” continents for two weeks to work in the top bars in the world – one bar in London and one in New York City. The London host bar is ‘The [...]

Cutty Sark, acquired by Edrington just over three years ago, is set for a re-introduction in the UK, and the news coincides with the announcement of its first ever seaplane partnership with Loch Lomond Seaplanes. Cutty Sark which celebrated its 90th birthday on the 23rd March is one of the top 10 Scotch whisky brands [...]

Diageo boss Paul Walsh has suggested that the company could launch its own tequila brand. He revealed the news after he was questioned about the surprise pull-out from the Jose Cuervo deal last year, which would have seen Diageo taking a slice of the company. He said, “An organic play is the best entry into [...]

Benromach, Speyside’s smallest distillery, experienced exceptional sales growth in 2012 and its rise is set to continue with investment in a new bottling line in 2013. Benromach’s overall sales were up by 40% in 2012 and exports increased by 55%. Sales in the UK increased by 13% but sales oversees also bloomed. It experienced particularly [...]

Diageo plc, United Spirits Limited and United Breweries (Holdings) Limited have announced agreements under which Diageo would acquire a 27.4% stake in USL, the leading spirits company in India, and the company behind Whyte & Mackay. The total consideration will be approximately £660 million. Following completion of these agreements, Dr Vijay Mallya will continue in [...]

Aberdeenshire distillery GlenDronach is producing a new cask strength expression which will be bottled this month. Personally selected by Billy Walker and designed to supplement the core range of 12, 15, 18 and 21 year old vintages, the GlenDronach Cask Strength has been matured in a combination of the finest Spanish Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso [...]

Mark Reynier, the former CEO of Bruichladdich Distillery, has left the company he founded in December 2000. His move follows the sale of the the company to Remy Cointreau in July 2012 for £58m. Bruichladdich Distillery was acquired from Whyte & Mackay for £6m, including 1m litres of mature stocks. Over the following decade a [...]

A new global advertising campaign for Johnnie Walker entitled “Where Flavour is King” will not launch in the UK until next year, but when it does it will feature social media activation which will be aimed at encouraging consumers on the different ways to enjoy Johnnie Walker. Gavin Pike, global brand director for Johnnie Walker, [...]