Scotland’s Next Wave of Whisky Distilleries
With more than 50 on the horizon, here are six to keep tabs on now.
It’s no secret that Scotch whisky is booming. The industry posted record-breaking exports in 2017, according to a report by the Scotch Whisky Association, growing in both volume and value (by 1.6 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively) to a total of £4.37 billion ($6.65 billion)—the equivalent of 1.23 billion bottles exported globally. Single-malt Scotch saw 14 percent year-over-year growth to £1.17 billion, the second year in a row to break the billion-pound threshold, reflecting a trend toward premium products in global markets.
And at auction, it’s proved a gangbusters alternative investment, far outpacing fine wines, according to Bonhams Hong Kong. In May, the record for the most expensive bottle ever sold was smashed back-to-back when a rare 60-year-old Macallan whisky fetched HK$7.96 million ($1.01 million) only to be broken by a second bottle going for $1.1 million hours later at the same event. Young, affluent Chinese consumers are particularly hot for the spirit.