Beam Suntory invests £6m in Glen Garioch

Spirits producer Beam Suntory will invest £6 million (US$8.3m) in Highland Scotch distillery Glen Garioch to reintroduce floor maltings and other ‘traditional’ processes to the site.

The Glen Garioch distillery in Oldmeldrum, Scotland, was founded in 1797. The £6m renovation will also include the installation of direct fire heating to the wash still.

Furthermore, Beam Suntory will also introduce a ‘cutting-edge’ direct fired distillation method, which will reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint by 15%.

Kwanele Mdluli, distillery manager, said: “Although these traditional distilling and malting methods are rare in today’s industry, our teams have deep expertise and passion for these methods, and we’re all looking forward to bringing them back to our distillery.

“We are honoured to be a part of Glen Garioch’s long tradition of innovation and quality craftsmanship.”

The return to ‘traditional processes’ at Glen Garioch is said to be out of ‘respect for its rich heritage’. The first new make spirit will come off the stills later in 2021.

Francois Bazini, Beam Suntory’s managing director – Scotch, gin and Irish, added: “Our whisky has always been made with extraordinary care, and by reinvigorating its distillery and tapping into the brand’s rich history, we’ll be able to build on the quality and complexity that Glen Garioch is already known for.

“Although we’re looking to the past for inspiration, we’re opening the next chapter in Glen Garioch’s future.”