Uploaded March 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
In 2022 there was a vPub focused on all of the new distilleries founded or rebuilt since 2000. Of those already in production and announced as work-in-progress we counted 70 brand new distilleries in Scotland alone.
Even in the heady days of 2022 this was a staggering and - for the whisky botherer - an exciting prospect. We should also note that we missed some; with Kythe, Benbecula and two Orkney distilleries not mentioned. Add this to the massive expansions to legacy distilleries across the land, we can see everyone was gearing up to make more and more whisky. It was endless.
Then things changed. A slow down in 2023 led to a very flat 2024.
We now find ourselves in 2025 and the horizon doesn’t have quite the same amber glow of optimism. Things are a little nervy as market demand and dynamics have shifted somewhat. The announcements today seem more likely to be news of throttling back, or even mothballing.
Certainly, some of those work-in-progress distilleries mentioned in 2022 have faltered and some will no longer see the light of day.
However, most have progressed, with many more releasing their malt brands onto the market. While some are eagerly received others struggle a little - it seems there’s much more variety, choice and supply than there is demand. It’s difficult to imagine a future where all of these brands survive.
Yet, still, we hear of more new distillery projects.
I wanted to explore what on earth would motivate anyone to venture forth in building a distillery in 2025; a follow-up to our 2022 session, if you will. However for this one, I felt a little light on knowledge and insight, I needed some external input.
Another of these new projects - also not mentioned in 2022 - is Struie Distillery in Sutherland: the brand new project once known as ‘Dornoch 2’. The brainchild of the Thompson Brothers, it is in a very mature stage and is set to proceed, despite greyer skies overhead.
So I thought I’d reach out to ask Simon and Phil if they’d be willing to step forward and share their own take on things. What challenges lie ahead, where they see positive potential and what can be done to help mitigate risks for these new projects with additional brands inevitably appearing in an already crowded space. Would they be up for it?
They said ‘Aye’.
I hope you’ll join me, Simon and Phil this week to talk new distilleries - and whisky in general. Looking forward to welcoming you there!
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 streamyard.com/pal/d/5188931899359232
In 2022 there was a vPub focused on all of the new distilleries founded or rebuilt since 2000. Of those already in production and announced as work-in-progress we counted 70 brand new distilleries in Scotland alone.
Even in the heady days of 2022 this was a staggering and - for the whisky botherer - an exciting prospect. We should also note that we missed some; with Kythe, Benbecula and two Orkney distilleries not mentioned. Add this to the massive expansions to legacy distilleries across the land, we can see everyone was gearing up to make more and more whisky. It was endless.
Then things changed. A slow down in 2023 led to a very flat 2024.
We now find ourselves in 2025 and the horizon doesn’t have quite the same amber glow of optimism. Things are a little nervy as market demand and dynamics have shifted somewhat. The announcements today seem more likely to be news of throttling back, or even mothballing.
Certainly, some of those work-in-progress distilleries mentioned in 2022 have faltered and some will no longer see the light of day.
However, most have progressed, with many more releasing their malt brands onto the market. While some are eagerly received others struggle a little - it seems there’s much more variety, choice and supply than there is demand. It’s difficult to imagine a future where all of these brands survive.
Yet, still, we hear of more new distillery projects.
I wanted to explore what on earth would motivate anyone to venture forth in building a distillery in 2025; a follow-up to our 2022 session, if you will. However for this one, I felt a little light on knowledge and insight, I needed some external input.
Another of these new projects - also not mentioned in 2022 - is Struie Distillery in Sutherland: the brand new project once known as ‘Dornoch 2’. The brainchild of the Thompson Brothers, it is in a very mature stage and is set to proceed, despite greyer skies overhead.
So I thought I’d reach out to ask Simon and Phil if they’d be willing to step forward and share their own take on things. What challenges lie ahead, where they see positive potential and what can be done to help mitigate risks for these new projects with additional brands inevitably appearing in an already crowded space. Would they be up for it?
They said ‘Aye’.
I hope you’ll join me, Simon and Phil this week to talk new distilleries - and whisky in general. Looking forward to welcoming you there!
🎙️ New to streaming or looking to level up? Check out StreamYard and get $10 discount! 😍 streamyard.com/pal/d/5188931899359232
