Global Drinks Intel’s exclusive series of leadership interviews, in which senior executives look back at last year and ahead to 2026, welcomes Edrington CEO Scott McCroskie.What was your overriding takeaway from 2025?It was another tough year in the spirits business! However, it feels as though we've worked through most of the destocking that was necessary and are now on a more stable trajectory.Of course, challenges remain, not least low levels of consumer confidence in many markets and perhaps also some of the ‘structural’ pressures, such as lifestyle and consumption occasion changes,
How will 2026 treat Edrington? – CEO Scott McCroskie speaks exclusively to Global Drinks Intel
‘The scale of the decline of full-strength bottled spirits in the US last year was a big surprise.’

Olly has been reporting on the beverage industry as a B2B journalist since 2003. He spent 18 years at Just Drinks, 16 of which as managing editor. Since joining Global Drinks Intel in 2022, he's interviewed the CEOs for brand owners including AB InBev, Campari Group, Carlsberg, Heineken and Suntory Global Spirits and has a bulging contacts book from across beverage alcohol worldwide.


