The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
£88m upgrade for whisky distilleries
Drinks giant Pernod Ricard has said it is “betting big on the future of Scotch” as it unveils an £88 million upgrade of two whisky distilleries.
Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard, said it will be able to produce an extra 14 million litres of alcohol at two sites, Aberlour and Miltonduff near Elgin, by mid-2025.
The company said the investment is “further confirmation of Chivas Brothers’ commitment to Scotland” as well as a reaction to the growing global demand for Scotch whisky.
Aberlour Distillery, which has been producing whisky since 1879, will see its production capacity double, the firm said.
The group said the extra capacity will support growing demand for its “cult favourite” Scotch which it said is its bestselling single malt whisky in France and has made “significant gains across Asia”.
The distillery will also undergo a significant facelift with an upgraded visitor centre which will draw more whisky fans to the area and boost local tourism. A new still house will be equipped with large windows providing visitors with views into the nearby woods and the River Spey, which provides the water to make the spirit.
The expansion at Miltonduff will consist of a new, state of the art sustainable distillery built next to the existing facility.
The distillery will include a bio plant and evaporator, making an extra 10m litres a year.
The spirit produced at Miltonduff is used to produce a number of blended whiskies including Ballantine’s, which has enjoyed a 23% boost in global sales in the company’s most recent half year.
A spokesman for the company said the investment was expected to have a “positive impact on job creation in the region”.
The distilleries will also feature new technology that will support the firm’s ambition to be a carbonneutral distiller by 2026.
The use of mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) fan technology enables significant energy recovery by compressing vapour which then rises in temperature and is sent back to heat the stills during the distillation process.
Last year, the company announced plans to roll out MVR technology across all viable sites by 2026 following a pilot study at its Glentauchers Distillery which resulted in energy reductions of 90% on a single pot still there.
Jean-Etienne Gourgues, chairman and chief executive of Chivas Brothers, said the company has weathered some “challenging” conditions during the global pandemic but it was now set for growth.
“Scotch has demonstrated its resilience as a category over the past few challenging years and in the process has opened new avenues for growth,” he said.
“This expansion will allow us to increase our volume to capitalise on the increased demand and interest in Scotch, but also supports our drive to reduce emissions in line with our sustainability ambitions.
“We’re once again betting big on the future of Scotch so we can bring in new consumers to the category and continue to shape a sustainable future of whisky.”
Moray MSP Richard Lochhead welcomed the investment and said its focus on low-carbon production would make the facilities “fit for the future”.