InchDairnie and MacDuff announce merger
MacDuff International and InchDairnie Distillery have consolidated their operations and merged into a single entity, which is to be known as InchDairnie Whisky Limited.
As of today (1 May), the newly formed InchDairnie Whisky Limited will be led by Graham Glen, managing director (commercial), and Scott Sneddon, managing director (distilling).
Fife-based distillery InchDairnie, which will celebrate its 10th anniversary in December 2025, was founded by industry veteran Ian Palmer with a vision to harness ‘precision distilling’ – bringing together science, nature, and technology to explore and elevate new dimensions of flavour in whisky.
Meanwhile MacDuff International, founded in 1992 by Charles Murray, Stewart MacDuff and Edward Thomson, is an independent Scotch company that produces a number of premium whisky brands, including Islay Mist and Lauder’s, and is responsible for the sales and distribution of InchDairnie Distillery’s Scottish rye whisky, RyeLaw, and the distillery’s soon-to-be-released inaugural single malt signature bottling, KinGlassie.
The merger is said to bring a range of benefits that will support the business in its next chapter.
By unifying under a single company, customers and distributors will now engage with one streamlined and consistent business, allowing for efficiencies in external communications and operations. The new structure will also allow for greater strategic focus, aligning all teams behind a single long-term vision for the company.
Commenting on the merger, Glen said: “The formation of InchDairnie Whisky Limited is the natural next step in our journey.
“We believe that working as one business, with one team and one clear vision, sets us up for long-term success across all areas of our operation. While the MacDuff name will be retired from active use, it will forever remain a proud part of the group’s legacy that we look forward to building upon in this next chapter.
“Islay Mist, Lauder’s and Waterproof, together with RyeLaw and KinGlassie, with more InchDairnie brands launching over the next four years, makes for an amazing portfolio of whisky brands to excite the whisky enthusiast.”
Glen and Sneddon will be joined on the board of directors by chairman Palmer, vice-chairman David Sloan, operations director Lesley Ramage, and finance director Jim Campbell.
Sneddon added: “This is more than just a name change. It’s a statement – about who we are, how we work together, and what we want to achieve as a modern, ambitious whisky business. It comes at an exciting time for the business too, as we plan to launch our inaugural single malt signature bottling, KinGlassie.”
The company has confirmed that its current office locations in Glasgow and Glenrothes, Fife, will be retained.
