Suntory scraps plans for £150m whisky site
Laphroaig owner Suntory Global Spirits has axed its proposed plan to build a £150 million (US$191m) maturation facility in East Ayrshire, Scotland.
Plans for the site, which would house warehouses to mature Scotch whisky and be located on South Drumboy Farm in Kilmarnock, were submitted in 2023.
Permission was granted for the site to move forward by Scottish ministers on 24 March 2025, despite resistance from the Fenwick Community Council over concerns with its environmental impact.
A spokesperson for the firm confirmed the development would no longer go ahead: “Suntory Global Spirits is deeply committed to Scotland and the long-term success of our Scotch whisky brands.
“While we are no longer progressing with the Kingswell project, we are redirecting investment to a local maturation facility. Our investment in Scotland will continue as we remain focused on the long-term sustainability of our operations, brands and contribution to the economy.”
Suntory Global Spirits (named Beam Suntory at the time) had said the facility would bring whisky back to the region for the first time in a decade, as well as create approximately 45 jobs.
The Spirits Business has asked Suntory Global Spirits how the intended £150m investment for the maturation site will now be used.
Suntory’s Scotch portfolio includes Bowmore and Laphroaig on Islay, Auchentoshan, Ardmore, Ardray, Teacher’s and Glen Garioch.
In February, the company confirmed the operational teams at its two Islay distilleries are being merged into one to align with long-term demand. A voluntary redundancy programme is being offered as part of the process.
Suntory told The Spirits Business that the plans are still under development regarding its distillery expansion for Laphroaig.
Organic spirits sales for the Japanese firm declined in 2025, though it has not disclosed by how much.
In December, Jim Bean owner Suntory announced it would pause production at its main distillery on the James B Beam campus in Kentucky until the end of 2026.
A decline in demand for whisky has seen a number of distilleries pause production and cut jobs in the past year, including Fife-based InchDairnie Distillery, Ian Macleod Distillers-owned Rosebank, Brown-Forman’s Glenglassaugh, and Isle of Harris.
Redundancies have also been reported at Pauls Malt’s Glenesk malting plant in Montrose, Scotland.
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