Spirits giant Bacardi to pump millions into these two Scottish whisky distilleries

The family-owned group, which has a global portfolio of more than 200 brands and labels, said it was “investing in the future” of whisky with the completion of several projects at its production sites across Scotland.

Most recently, the company has added three “state-of-the-art” ageing warehouses at its 200-acre blending and maturation centre in south-east Glasgow. The warehouses are said to utilise a more efficient design that increases capacity by more than 15 per cent.

At Aultmore Distillery in Speyside, a multi-million-pound expansion project was completed last month to improve efficiency and safety and install new technology to help reduce energy and water consumption on site. The distillery now uses a technology which captures, compresses and reuses vapor in the distillation process to improve energy and water efficiency. A new boiler has also been installed to provide the capacity to switch to hydrogen fuel in the future.

The improvement project, which has taken almost two years of planning and design, includes a new Tun room, still house, boiler house and closed loop cooling tower.

Founded by local businessman and philanthropist Alexander Edward, Aultmore Distillery has been producing whisky since 1897.

Meanwhile, work has taken place at Macduff Distillery, the home of The Deveron single malt whisky. Bacardi said it had completed significant site improvements to overhaul the mashing equipment, create a new air-conditioned control room, and drive energy and water savings by implementing “high gravity mashing”.

Keith Hogg, vice-president of supply chain, Europe, for Bacardi, said: “Our investment in Aultmore and Macduff distilleries and our Poniel blending and maturation centre is an important step in the bold plans we have for our premium and ultra-premium whiskies. We are so proud of the exceptional quality of our award-winning Scotch whiskies and are investing in its growth for the long-term.”

The spirits group has operated five distilleries across Scotland - Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie and Macduff - for more than 25 years, “nurturing and respecting the heritage of each”.