Whisky Focus - Aultmore Set To Mark 125th Anniversary With £15m Expansion

As Aultmore Distillery approaches  125 years of whisky production in Keith, Speyside, owners John Dewar & Sons (Barcardi) has announced a £15m expansion plan.

To celebrate this special moment the distillery has also announced a special limited edition bottling of Aultmore single malt whisky to mark the 125th Anniversary – the ‘Aultmore Anniversary Edition’ which will go on sale exclusively at Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery (Aultmore isn't open to visitors) and online at https://shop.dewars.com in the coming weeks.

The special Aultmore Anniversary Edition is a 10 year old First Fill American Bourbon cask matured whisky which has been bottled non-chill filtered, with no added caramel colouring at 46% ABV. This is a limited release of only 360 bottles which will only be available for UK shipping. I have a bottle on the way so watch this space for my thoughts on this one.

In terms of production capacity Aultmore currently has the smallest output of Dewar's five malt whisky distilleries Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, The Deveron and Royal Brackla, Aultmore's current capacity is 3,200,000 litres per year but that figure is destined to double under the new plans.

The new investment by owner, Bacardi, will see the addition of fermenters, pot-stills and infrastructure. The plan will also see a new heat-recovering system installed which will reduce the distillery’s energy usage and carbon footprint. The expansion work will begin immediately, production will not be interrupted during the work, production will continue as normal throughout and the work is scheduled to be completed by spring 2024.

Founded by local businessman and philanthropist, Alexander Edward, Aultmore Distillery has been producing top quality whisky for 125 years. The single malt whisky has found itself a following in recent years when Dewar's launched a new core range back in 2014 and since then Aultmore single malt whisky has become an award-winning brand that is now sold around the world.

The expansion plans come as the growing popularity of premium Scotch whiskies sees worldwide demand increase. The Bacardi portfolio of single malt whiskies, which includes Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Royal Brackla, The Deveron and Craigallachie is particularly popular in Asia, where it has grown 30% over the last five years.

"Aultmore Distillery has a long history and association with quality spirit, and the success of our single malt is a testament to those past and present who have played their part in crafting it," comments Ross Bremner, Distillery Manager, Aultmore Distillery. "As we get started on our exciting expansion plans to increase production, it’s an honour for those of us here today to play an integral part in the future of this beautiful whisky."

The Scotch whisky distillery has been part of Bacardi's portfolio for almost 25 years. A family-owned spirits company with more than 160 years of history, Bacardi operates five distilleries across Scotland – Aultmore, Aberfeldy, Royal Brackla, Craigellachie, and Macduff – producing Dewar's and William Lawson's Blended Scotch whiskies, alongside its five Single Malts. The company nurtures and respects the heritage of each, to produce top quality drinks which are rooted in the traditions of the local areas.

"We have an incredibly skilled and innovative team here in Scotland and we are so proud of the success of the whisky portfolio we produce," comments Niall Mitchell, VP Supply Chain, Western Europe, Australia & New Zealand, Bacardi. "As more and more people around the world discover and fall in love with these drinks, we are investing in their growth for the long-term."

For more information or to buy a bottle of the limited-edition Aultmore Anniversary Edition 10 Year Old American First Fill Bourbon cask matured single malt which will go on sale in coming weeks priced at £70 - visit https://shop.dewars.com/

You will also find the current Aultmore core range of single malt whiskies available from specialist online whisky shops such as The Whisky Exchange, The Whisky Shop, Hard To Find Whisky and Master of Malt
 

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