Whisky et distilleries: Forum

The new owner of the Ardmore and Laphroaig malt whisky distilleries unveiled plans yesterday to ramp up production at the two sites. Beam Global Spirits and Wine's plan to increase output has already led to four extra jobs being created at Ardmore. The US company acquired the two distilleries as part of the £7.6billion deal that saw its parent, Fortune Brands, and France's Pernod Ricard sharing the spoils of a takeover of UK firm Allied Domecq last year. Fortune and Pernod agreed to divide up the Allied business to address regulatory concerns. Among the whisky brands, Teacher's and the single malts Laphroaig and Ardmore went to the Fortune group. Pernod took over premium blend Ballantine's and the Scapa and Glendronach malts. Ardmore Distillery, at Kennethmont, near Huntly, continues to produce the core malt component for Teacher's. It is to increase its total production from five to seven days a week. Bosses expect the change to result in output at Ardmore increasing to more than 5million litres a year from its current level of just under 3million litres. Laphroaig Distillery on Islay which operates six days a week, is to switch to seven-day production for part of the year. Its annual output is expected to rise by around 300,000 litres to a total of 2.3million. An increase in production at both distilleries is needed to meet Teacher's requirements in the wake of the reorganisation brought about by the sale of Allied. The new owner has already advertised for four additional staff for Ardmore, which employs 12 people. The Islay distillery has a workforce of 19. Illinois-based Beam has also appointed a Scotch whisky director, Douglas Reid, who joined the company from Allied last year. His late father, Albert, worked at the Ardmore distillery for many years and the family lived in cottages nearby. Douglas Reid went on to university and then a career spanning drinks industry jobs at Grand Metropolitan, Scottish and Newcastle and Allied, for whom he worked for 10 years. Mr Reid is supported in his new role by distillery managers Alistair Longwell at Ardmore and John Campbell at Laphroaig. Douglas Lewis remains in his position of distillery operator at Ardmore. The new whisky director said the two Scottish operations were now a key part of Beam's Scotch whisky interests and would have a positive impact on generating local employment. Mr Reid added: "Most importantly, we have made appointments that provide continuity and build on local knowledge, skill and experience gained over many years and generations." Beam's other brands include Jim Beam bourbon, Canadian Club whiskey, Courvoisier cognac, Sauza tequila, Larios gin, DYC and Maker's Mark bourbons, DeKuyper cordials, plus various wine brands and liqueurs.

Smokey-Kong a écrit :Tu ne m'en trouve pas étonné pour autant : d'après des amis anglais, on exporte bien trop de Laphroaig à leur goût, et certaines versions deviennent chez eux moins faciles à trouver comme le quinze ans par exemple. Cela explique peut-être la multiplication des embouteillages jeunes de Laphroaig, les dix ans cask strength notamment (slurp ! :D ).
Tant que la qualité est là, on ne se plaindra pas ; d'autant que l'augmentation de la production nous protège contre une augmentation des prix trop rapide.

Slainte

S-K