Amber Beverage Group (ABG) has signalled its intention to become one of the major global producers of Irish whiskey. The company said late last week that it plans to invest “up to €35 million in the construction of one of the largest distilleries in the category”. Walsh Whiskey Distillery at Dunleckney will become the brand home for Writers’ Tears and The…

Pernod Ricard’s Chivas Brothers unit has announced plans to open its first whisky distillery on Scotland’s isle of Islay. The distillery (artistic render pictured above), which will be located on Gartbreck Farm, will focus on producing an Islay single malt, marking the first Islay whisky in the Chivas Brothers portfolio. Jean-Etienne Gourgues, chairman and CEO at Chivas Brothers, said the introduction of…

American whiskey distillery Buffalo Trace is to open a brand home and shop in Covent Garden, called Buffalo Trace Distillery London. As well as its namesake bourbon, the distillery also produces Eagle Rare, Sazerac Rye, WL Weller, and Pappy Van Winkle. The London store is the company’s first brand home outside of Kentucky. The 2,000 sq ft space features tasting experiences in two bars as…

Eden Mill Distillery is set to partner with the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) for the second year running. Eden Mill’s Wildcard Gin, which was launched last year with the partnership in mind, will be served at four upcoming LTA tournaments, alongside Eden Mill’s range of alcohol-free RTDs. Gary Stewart, head of commercial and operations at the LTA, said:  “The limited edition Wildcard Gin was…

Scotch whisky producer International Beverage Holdings has finished a £4 million upgrade at its Balmenach distillery in Speyside. The distillery, which produces around three million litres of alcohol a year for blended whisky, is also home to the company’s Caorunn gin. The upgrade includes an anaerobic/aerobic digestion plant which “uses micro-organisms to break down the liquid co-products of whisky”, the company said. The process produces…

Proximo-owned Irish whiskey brand Bushmills has added a second facility to the site of the Old Bushmills Distillery. The £37 million Causeway Distillery, so-called because of the distillery’s proximity to the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, is part of Proximo’s £60 million investment at the site over the past five years. The investment, in Irish single malt distilling and ageing, includes additional warehousing and infrastructure,…

In 2019, The Glenturret, in Crieff, became the property of luxury goods specialist Lalique Group and Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss. The small distillery, with 260 years of history, was once the home of blend The Famous Grouse. Now, the new owners are championing The Glenturret and its single malts. Distillery manager Ian Renwick talks to Lucy Britner about ownership, Scottish barley and distillery…