The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
£4 million expansion for Fife brewer and distiller
Guardbridge company on course to double turnover to £8m as exports grow in China, the US and across Europe
The Scottish founder of the first single-site distillery and brewery north of the border has ambitious expansion plans for the young Fife business, including a larger distillery and visitor experience.
Eden Mill, based at Guardbridge near St Andrews, makes a variety of craft drinks, including beer, single malt and blended whisky, gin and gin liqueurs.
Paul Miller, a former managing director for Scotland with Molson Coors Brewing (UK), started the operation in 2012.
The workforce has grown since then to 50 people – 40 at Guardbridge and the other 10 based in Glasgow.
Turnover continues to soar, with the figure for the current year expected to hit £8 million – more than double that of the previous 12 months.
The gin side of the operation is currently responsible for 75% of turnover.
Paul, 55, who has now lived in Fife for more than 20 years, is delighted at how popular a tourist attraction Eden Mill has become in its short life.
The Tripadvisor website rates a visit to the site as the No 1 thing to do in Fife.
Paul told The Courier: “We are on target for over 20,000 visitors this year on gin, beer and whisky experiences, and numbers are limited only by space.
“With so many ‘fake’ gins pretending to be from places which don’t even have distilleries, we are really proud of sharing our passion and providing a real gin ‘experience’ for our visitors.
“Although our place is not the finished article, people seem to really like being on a journey with us.”
Paul said Eden Mill is growing fast as a drinks brand, with business in China, more than 20 states in the US, most of the major EU countries and a strong presence in duty free – Heathrow Airport is the latest new listing.
Only a few weeks ago it was announced Eden Mill had signed a £1.1m deal to supply Aldi stores in Scotland with a range of bespoke botanical gins and pre-mixed cocktails.
Asked about other developments, Paul said: “This year will see a section of old favourites and interesting new expressions in the 12 Gins of Xmas gift pack.
“This is expected to sell over 20,000 units.
“Last year, demand was huge for this as both a gift and as a consumable item, this year we are providing double the numbers but given advance interest it feels like it is going to sell out again.
“This will be launched at end of September.”
Paul also said there are plans to develop a larger distillery and visitor experience on the Guardbridge site.
The latest investment is expected to cost around £4m and it is hoped work can start next month.
Paul said high interest levels in gin and whisky experiences among tourists had led to the development of the Blendworks concept, located in Macdonald Rusacks Hotel adjacent to the 18th green of the Old Course at St Andrews.
“This will allow enthusiasts to come and create their own unique bottle of gin or whisky blend under the tutelage of an Eden Mill crafts person at this iconic location.
“This will be launched formally at the week of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship next month.”
Other exciting developments for Eden Mill this year include December’s release of the first single malt whisky made in the St Andrews area.