Diageo has completed the final project in its “Four Corners of Scotland” Scotch whisky tourism programme, with the Caol Ila distillery ready to open to the public.
The facility, on the western island of Islay, joins Cardhu, Alynelish and Glenkinchie distilleries in being repositioned by the group as “key ingredients” in the blend for flagship brand Johnnie Walker. A new “visitor experience” at the coastal distillery is the seventh to benefit from Diageo’s GBP185m (then US$246.1m) programme, which commenced in 2018.
Also included in the spend are the reopenings of the Port Ellen facility – also on Islay – as well as Brora in the northern Highlands. A new Johnnie Walker-dedicated outlet was also opened in the centre of Edinburgh a year ago.
In results for the 12 months to the end of June, reported last month, Johnnie Walker posted a 34% increase in year-on-year sales, driving a group lift of 21.4%.
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