Turnover up at one of Scotland’s oldest whisky distilleries

BREXIT: Directors have no intentions of changing plans despite uncertainty

One of Scotland’s oldest distilleries has toasted a large rise in sales.

Blackford-based whisky producer Tullibardine Limited increased its turnover by 9% to £26 million for the year ending December 31 2018.

Pre-tax profits for the firm, founded before the union of crowns, fell from £3.1m in 2017 to £2.8m last year.

In 2011, leading French wine and spirits group Picard Vins & Spiritueux bought the business from a group of private investors who had brought the distillery back into production in 2003, after it had been mothballed for 10 years by its previous owners.

Director Gabriel Jacques Picard said he was pleased with the firm’s levels of profits, adding that “all areas” of the business had performed to expectations. He said: “The company continues to seek new opportunities and markets to develop further the success of the company’s brand around the world. “Everyone within the business works to this same shared goal.” Mr Picard said appropriate procedures were in place to ensure the major risks faced by the company were “identified, assessed and managed”.

He said Brexit had brought “great uncertainty”, but the directors had no intention to change plans for the businesses in the immediate future.

Shareholders’ funds increased from £15.4m to £17.6m last year.

Last year Tullibardine Limited had an average number of 36 employees.

The history of Tullibardine as a location for brewing and distilling is one of the oldest in Scotland, dating back to the 15th Century.

Picture: Steve MacDougall. Tullibardine distillery has posted a large increase in sales.

Picture: Matthiuu Image et Associes. The Murray Marsala, a specialist whisky produced by Tullibardine.