Suntory to shift Irish whiskey bottling to Spain and Scotland
Japanese drinks giant Suntory has decided to move the bottling of three Irish whiskey brands made at its Cooley Distillery offshore.
The distillery produces Suntory’s Kilbeggan, Tyrconnell and Connemara Irish whiskey brands, all of which will now be bottled in Scotland and Spain.
According to the Irish Independent, the company informed distillery staff of the change last month, but is yet to finalise plans.
“On October 9, 2024, we announced that the group would plan to relocate bottling activity for Irish brands from Cooley Distillery to other group sites in Spain and Scotland, and a communication was made to employees of a proposal,” newly-filed accounts for the Cooley Distillery confirmed.
“However, at the time of the financial statements’ sign off, the total financial impact cannot be quantified until the consultation process is completed,” the company added.
Last year the distillery saw turnover decline 4.5% to €19.1m. Pre-tax profits dropped 23% to €1.1m over the same 12-month period.
Suntory suspended all shipments of alcohol to Russia in March 2022, a move which hit sales of its Kilbeggan brand, of which Russia was formerly a key market.
Its three Irish whiskey brands will now be bottled in either Scotland, where Suntory owns Scotch whisky brands including Bowmore and Laphroaig, or in Spain. Spain is a strategic hub for the drinks giant, and home to its international headquarters. It is home to Suntory’s DYC distillery in Segovia, which produces spirits and liqueurs such as Larios gin, Whisky DYC and La Castellana.
Cooley Distillery was bought from entrepreneur John Teeling by US drinks firm Beam in 2011 for €71m. Beam was acquired by Suntory in 2014.
The Drinks Business
Related news
Magnitude 5.5 earthquake hits Southern Spain
A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck southeastern Spain this morning, shaking…
Read more >Carrefour launches its first AI-based solution in Spain
French retail chain Carrefour has chosen Spain to implement its…
Read more >”I perfer fermented ingredients at the moment”
This time Attila Kolozs from Heinemann, brand ambassador of Suntory…
Read more >Related news
KSH: industrial production decreased by 2.6 percent compared to a year earlier and by 1.3 percent compared to the previous month in May
In May 2025, the volume of industrial production fell by…
Read more >We are getting better at shopping
This May POPAI Magyarország held its annual meeting and the…
Read more >AutoWallis’ vehicle sales expanded in the first half of the year
Acquisitions were the main driver behind the 3.4 percent growth…
Read more >