BrewDog to axe distilling business
Scottish brewer BrewDog will close down its distilling arm after 10 years in operation, and stop production of its spirits brands.
The UK’s leading independent brewer built a distillery in Ellon, Aberdeenshire, in 2015 and founded its spirits business a year later.
The company will cease production of its spirits brands, including Lonewolf Gin, Abstrakt Vodka, Duo Rum, Casa Rayos Tequila and Ron Bodega rum, over the coming months.
BrewDog did not confirm how many jobs will be impacted by the closure, or what will happen to the distillery, when asked by The Spirits Business.
Canned cocktail brand Wonderland will continue to be produced by a third party.
A spokesperson for BrewDog said: “After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to cease production of our distilling brands, with the exception of Wonderland cocktails.
“This will allow us to sharpen our focus, and concentrate our efforts on our beer and the continued growth of Wonderland. We’re incredibly proud of what the distillery team has built and want to thank everyone who has worked on, contributed to, and supported the distilling business over the years.”
Over the next few months, BrewDog’s distilling team will wind down the business, including the sale of remaining stock while honouring supply arrangements.
The move coincides with recent rumours that BrewDog founder James Watt is planning to buy back control of the business. Watt stepped down as CEO in 2024, after several controversies, including alleged inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power. Watt has denied all accusations.
The upcoming closure also comes just three months after the departure of Steven Kersley, managing director of BrewDog Distilling, who helped establish the spirits arm a decade ago.
Kersley’s resignation followed the exit of BrewDog co-founder and BrewDog Distilling CEO Martin Dickie in August 2025.
Former chief operating officer (COO) James Arrow became CEO of BrewDog in May 2024. He left with immediate effect after less than a year in the role, citing personal reasons.
BrewDog’s chief financial officer, James Taylor, took over the CEO position in March last year. Taylor’s appointment also coincided with the promotion of chief marketing officer Lauren Caroll to the role of COO.
Ambitious spirits plans
BrewDog has invested millions of pounds into its distilling business and rebranded its spirits portfolio several times.
BrewDog Distilling Co was previously known as LoneWolf Distilling, launching its first spirits range (a gin and vodka) under that name in 2017. It launched a botanical rum, Five Hundred Cuts, in 2019.
It was followed by the launch of a hard seltzer range and a shochu in 2020.
A year later, BrewDog Distilling revealed a new series of spirits, including Seven Day Vodka. Another line of vodkas, which were made from beer, followed in 2022.
Duo Rum and Wonderland Cocktails were released in 2023, with the ready-to-drink brand expanding with new flavours in 2024.
Casa Rayos Tequila joined the spirits lineup in 2024, but faced backlash when it launched for its “striking similarity” to Scottish gin brand Lind & Lime.
BrewDog had also planned to lay down 2,000 whisky casks in 2023. There were also plans to build a small US distillery in 2019 that never materialised.
Last year, BrewDog revealed it would close 10 bars across the UK. According to its website, the company operates 90 BrewDog bars globally, including 59 in the UK and nine in the US.
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