Two scotch whisky businesses have agreed to bring their operations together into a single organisation.
The merger of InchDairnie Distillery and MacDuff International Scotch Whisky has taken effect from today (1 May). The latter’s name will be retired in favour of the former to create InchDairnie Whisky.
Financial details were not disclosed.
Founded in 2015 by Ian Palmer, InchDairnie owns a distillery in Fife (above), in Scotland’s Lowlands scotch producing region. The company has one brand, Ryelaw, which is a single grain expression. MacDuff, meanwhile, has been in existence since 1992 and owns the Islay Mist, Lauder’s and Waterproof blended whiskies. The company has also handled the global distribution of Ryelaw through its partners, with the exception of the UK, where Inchdairnie selected Disaronno International just over a year ago.
Palmer will assume the company’s chair, with day-to-day operations controlled jointly by the commercial and distilling MDs, Graham Glen (formerly MacDuff’s MD) and Scott Sneddon (MD of Inchdairnie), respectively.
“The formation of InchDairnie Whisky is the natural next step in our journey,” said Glen. “We believe that working as one business, with one team and one clear vision, sets us up for long-term success across all areas of our operation.”
The new business will launch its first single malt, a peated eight-year-old iteration called KinGlassie, later this month.
According to data from The Scotch Whisky Association in February, total scotch exports in 2024 rose by 3.9% in volumes but dipped by 3.7% in value terms.
