DC Blog: Whisky News Roundup April '26
- Lee Connor
- May 4
- 5 min read
April’s whisky news has been a study in contrasts: shiny new sites opening on Scotland’s coasts, pioneering sustainability projects switching on, and yet more evidence that the wider market is under real pressure. From blockbuster bourbon deals to brand‑home closures, here are the stories that caught my eye this month – and what they might mean for the months ahead.
March '26 Update
Investment, Mergers and Regulation
Sustainable Scotch: Struie funding secured
Highlands start‑up Struie Distillery has secured up to £1.57m in funding from Highlands and Islands Enterprise to build a carbon‑neutral Scotch whisky distillery with capacity for around 400,000 LPA per year.
The backing positions Struie as one of the UK’s largest planned carbon‑neutral distilleries, with the money earmarked for construction and low‑carbon technology at the new site.
Gallo closes Four Roses deal
E.&J. Gallo has completed its acquisition of Four Roses Bourbon from Kirin for up to US$775m, about two months after the deal was first announced.
Earlier filings suggested the headline figure includes a performance‑linked earn‑out, and Gallo is already talking up a new 100‑proof Four Roses expression as part of the refreshed strategy.
Sazerac reportedly eyes Brown‑Forman
US reports suggest Sazerac has approached Brown‑Forman, owner of Jack Daniel’s, about a possible US$15bn combination, at a reported 11% premium to Brown‑Forman’s pre‑news valuation.
The story joins a swirl of speculation that Brown‑Forman has also explored options with Pernod Ricard, underlining how attractive scale whisky assets remain even as growth slows.
Alberta nudges towards an “Alberta whisky” definition
The province of Alberta is consulting on a formal definition of “Alberta whisky”, aiming to protect local producers and tighten up provenance and production standards.
Details are still being worked through, but the direction of travel mirrors other regional GIs and protected terms we’ve seen emerge around the whisky world.
Sustainability and Innovation
Rosebank extends Celtic Renewables partnership
Reborn Lowland distillery Rosebank has extended its partnership with Celtic Renewables, ensuring distillery by‑products continue to feed the biotech firm’s low‑carbon biorefinery in Grangemouth.
The deal has been described as a “blueprint for the future green economy”, anchoring Rosebank in a circular‑economy model for draff and pot ale
Annandale’s “net‑zero whisky” heat project powers up
Annandale Distillery has switched on a first‑of‑a‑kind high‑temperature thermal storage system from Exergy3 and Cochran, backed by the UK government’s Net Zero Innovation Portfolio.
The kit can deliver process heat up to 1,200°C from low‑carbon electricity and is central to Annandale’s 12‑step plan to make genuinely low‑carbon, and ultimately net‑zero, whisky.
Distilleries Opening, Expanding and Seeking Owners
Laggan Bay opens as Islay’s 11th distillery
Ian Macleod Distillers has officially opened Laggan Bay Distillery on Islay, filling its first cask on 2 April and becoming the island’s 11th malt site.
Overlooking the sands of Laggan Bay, the build includes wetlands for effluent treatment and a strong sustainability bent, with an open day planned during this year’s Fèis Ìle.
Belgian Owl looks for a buyer
The Belgian Owl whisky distillery at Fexhe‑le‑Haut‑Clocher is up for sale as a fully operational site, marketed as a rare turnkey opportunity with casks, plant and bottling in place.
Reports suggest around 1m litres annual capacity and more than 3,500 casks on the books, some up to 20 years old.
Witchburn equity programme opens (for a short window)
Campbeltown‑bound Witchburn Distillery (Brave New Spirits) has launched a limited‑time equity offer, inviting a small group of “Founding Partners” to buy 1% stakes rather than the usual cask‑only model.
The raise is designed to bring long‑term backers into the almost‑completed distillery as it joins Campbeltown’s expanding roster.
Tourism, Festivals and Experiences
Kentucky Bourbon Trail holds at 2.7m visitors
The Kentucky Bourbon Trail welcomed 2.7m visits in 2025, matching its 2024 record and marking a third consecutive year above 2m.
Visitors came from all 50 US states and over 20 countries, with average trip spends sitting in the US$600–1,400 range according to Kentucky Distillers’ Association figures.
Glen Scotia launches “Mini Malts Festival” at Luss
Glen Scotia is launching a new two‑day Mini Malts Festival at Luss Distillery on Loch Lomond on 16–17 May, effectively bringing a slice of Campbeltown to the central belt.
The programme includes a pop‑up bar, drams of the 2026 festival bottling and deconstructed tastings, pitched as an accessible alternative for those who can’t make it to Campbeltown proper.
Falkirk Distillery’s cinematic close‑up
Falkirk Distillery appears on the big screen as fictional “Glen Nairn” in Glenrothan, a new whisky‑themed film directed by Brian Cox.
Filmed on site in 2024 and released to UK and Irish cinemas in April, the movie positions Falkirk to benefit from the same “screen tourism” bump seen at other Scottish filming locations
People and Company Moves
Farewell to Stewart Laing
Stewart Hunter Laing, founder of Hunter Laing & Co and the driving force behind Islay’s Ardnahoe Distillery, has died aged 79.
Tributes across the industry have highlighted his six‑decade career in blending, independent bottling and distillery building, and his reputation as a generous, quietly influential figure in Scotch.
Lakes Distillery brand home closes
The Lakes Distillery brand home in Cumbria – including bistro, retail and tours – is being shut by owner Nyetimber, with around 15 roles lost.
Management cite cost‑of‑living pressures and changing visitor behaviour, arguing that continued subsidy of the venue was pulling focus from core growth priorities.
Artisanal Spirits Company chair to step down
Mark Hunter is set to leave his role as chair of The Artisanal Spirits Company, parent of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, after several years steering the listed business.
A search is under way for a successor as ASC continues to tweak strategy in a tougher environment for premium independents.
Proof 8 and Jackton (RAER) team up
E‑commerce specialist Proof 8 has partnered with Jackton Distillery (RAER) to enhance the brand’s digital customer experience and online sales.
The move follows Jackton’s recent “head of experience” hire and broader investment in its visitor proposition.
My ten pence worth...
It’s telling that the month’s most optimistic headlines – Struie’s funding, Laggan Bay’s opening and Annandale’s heat project – are all rooted in sustainability and long‑term thinking, rather than short‑term volume grabs. At the same time, The Lakes brand‑home closure, Belgian Owl’s sale and the ongoing wave of restructuring data remind us how exposed some business models are when demand softens and costs keep rising.
At the big‑end of town, Gallo’s completed Four Roses deal and the Sazerac/Brown‑Forman noise show that mature whisky assets are still hugely attractive to global capital – but the value is increasingly in scale, brands and route‑to‑market, not in speculative new builds without a clear story. My hunch is that we’re watching a sharper shake‑out: projects that are well‑capitalised, deeply rooted in place and genuinely differentiated will continue to find backers and visitors, while those without that resilience will face some very hard decisions over the next 12–24 months. Anyhow, that's you for this month folks. Why not go and book on to one of my tastings while you're here! All the best. Connas
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