Ayrshire-based boutique drinks firm, Crucial Drinks, has secured £2m of investment to develop its Scottish operations and boost its international portfolio.
The company’s brands include The Lost Distillery Company, which revives whiskies from long-closed Scottish distilleries, and Grenada rum brand Six Saints.
The funding will double the company’s annual revenue and was raised from existing shareholders and an extension to its banking facility with Clydesdale.
Crucial Drinks currently exports to 40 markets worldwide. The recent investment will allow the company to build its brands’ profile in key overseas markets including Germany, France, Asia and North America.
Scott Watson, co-founder of Crucial Drinks, said, “These funds are vital to us achieving the growth and scale we have planned to extend existing operations in Scotland, while meeting the increasing consumer demand for our artisan brands. Our shareholders and bank share our ambition and vision to double the business by 2018.”
Scott Watson and Brian Woods launched Crucial Drinks in 2013. The company relocated its headquarters to Dumfries House earlier this month. The new premises will include a Whisky Lounge, VIP Hospitality Bar, and additional office space to accommodate a projected doubling of its workforce to 20 in the next few years.
