Diageo’s Cluny Bond warehouses receive first of 2.7m Scotch barrels

Diageo has completed the construction of two new Scotch whisky warehouses in Fife, and is preparing to lay down the first of 120,000 casks.

The Cluny Bond development will mature whisky destined for blending in Johnnie Walker, to help meet escalating global demand

The drinks group plans to build a total of 46 warehouses at the Cluny Bond development at Begg Farm near Kirkcaldy, as part of a £180 million investment in Scotch whisky warehousing.

Each 64,500 sq ft warehouse at the Cluny Bond development will hold 60,000 barrels of maturing spirit for Diageo’s Scotch whisky portfolio, including leading brand Johnnie Walker.

The Cluny Bond development will eventually store around 2.76 million barrels of Scotch.

Diageo has already invested £200 million in recent years in developing its Cameronbridge Distillery and Leven packaging plant.

Harry Fox, Diageo’s operations director for warehouse and blending, said the completion of the two warehouses demonstrates the group’s commitment to the area and its business in Scotland as a whole.

“This is a massive site with superb links to the road network and we have worked closely with Fife Council and neighbours throughout the development,” he said.

“Over the next few months we will be transporting thousands of casks of Scotch whisky for storage here, where they will be locked away and left to mature before making their way to the 180 countries around the world where the demand for Diageo’s brands is growing on a daily basis.”

Diageo intends to complete the build of an additional five warehouses at the development by spring 2014, with more due for completion throughout 2014.

The investment in warehousing is part of Diageo’s commitment to spending £1 billion over a five-year period to increase its Scotch whisky production to meet escalating global demand.