16 March 2021 - Beam Suntory, a leading global premium spirits company, is making a significant £6 million investment in Glen Garioch’s renowned distillery in Oldmeldrum. The renovation will see the distillery return to more traditional production processes, while also introducing new cutting-edge technology for direct-fired distillation. The planned changes will also reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint. Work began in 2020, and various stages are expected to be completed over the course of 2021.  

The cornerstone of this transformation will be the reintroduction of floor maltings as well as the installation of direct-fired heating to the wash still – traditional methods still used by only a handful of whisky distilleries. The return to these traditional processes is a sign of Glen Garioch’s deep respect for its rich heritage, as well as the complexity and quality of its small batch, hand-crafted Highland single malt. 

To complement this return to tradition, Glen Garioch has developed a state-of-the-art, highly efficient and safe method for direct fired distillation, which Beam Suntory anticipates will reduce the distillery’s carbon footprint by around 15%. 

The first new make spirit will come off the stills later in 2021.

Kwanele Mdluli, Distillery Manager, commented: “We are proud to make this investment in Glen Garioch’s historic distillery, and we’re excited about the future. Although these traditional distilling and malting methods are rare in today’s industry, our teams have deep expertise and passion for these methods, and we’re all looking forward to bringing them back to our distillery. We are honoured to be a part of Glen Garioch’s long tradition of innovation and quality craftsmanship.”

Francois Bazini, Beam Suntory’s Managing Director – Scotch, Gin & Irish, added: “Coming from one of Scotland’s oldest distilleries, Glen Garioch is a rare find – a complex, hearty Highland malt, produced only in small batches. Our whisky has always been made with extraordinary care, and by reinvigorating its distillery and tapping into the brand’s rich history, we’ll be able to build on the quality and complexity that Glen Garioch is already known for. Although we’re looking to the past for inspiration – we’re opening the next chapter in Glen Garioch’s future.”

Editor’s Notes:

Beam Suntory is proud to employ more than 360 people in Scotland, the large majority of whom are involved in the production of its renowned Scotch whiskies, including Glen Garioch, Ardmore, Auchentoshan, Laphroaig, Bowmore and Teacher’s. 

As a result of these changes to the distillery, Glen Garioch has already doubled its highly skilled distillery operations team (from 7 to 12) and additional hires are planned in 2021. 

In returning to these traditional distilling and malting methods, Glen Garioch will undertake significant upskilling of the site team, as well as relying on the skills and experience of site staff who used these processes previously at Glen Garioch, including industry stalwarts such as Kenny “Digger” Grant, as well as the expertise of our sister distilleries on Islay, who also employ traditional floor maltings.

Media Contacts

Nell Murphy 
International Communications Director
Beam Suntory
nell.murphy@beamsuntory.com
07471148209

Hope & Glory PR
Glen Garioch
bsi@hopeandglorypr.com

About Glen Garioch
One of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland, Glen Garioch has been making its Single Malt Scotch Whisky in the historic market town of Oldmeldrum, near Aberdeen in North East Scotland, since 1797.

About Beam Suntory Inc.
As a world leader in premium spirits, Beam Suntory inspires human connections. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including the iconic Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark bourbon brands, Suntory whisky Kakubin and Courvoisier cognac, as well as world renowned premium brands including Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s and Legent bourbon; Yamazaki, Hakushu, Hibiki and Toki Japanese whisky; Teacher’s, Laphroaig, Bowmore and Glen Garioch Scotch whisky; Canadian Club whisky; Hornitos and Sauza tequila; EFFEN, Haku and Pinnacle vodka; Sipsmith and Roku gin; and On The Rocks Premium Cocktails.  
 
Beam Suntory was created in 2014 by combining the world leader in bourbon and the pioneer in Japanese whisky to form a new company with a deep heritage, passion for quality, innovative spirit and vision of Growing for Good.  Headquartered in Chicago, Illinois, Beam Suntory is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.  For more information on Beam Suntory, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit www.beamsuntory.com and www.drinksmart.com.

Meet Trang Bashore – Inventory Manager for Beam Suntory in Clermont, Kentucky, who was born in Vietnam, and moved to Kentucky through a high school exchange program when she was 15 years old.

“Before I arrived in Kentucky, I thought all of America was like New York City,” she said. “Instead of lights, skyscrapers and people flooding the streets, it was farms, horses and bluegrass as far as the eye could see.”
Bashore has spent her entire time in the US living in Kentucky. She enrolled in Eastern Kentucky University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in finance and an MBA in succession.

Right out of college, Bashore joined Beam Suntory as an Accounts Payable Analyst in Louisville. Over the years, she has held roles of increasing responsibility in the supply chain organization, first as a senior financial analyst and now as a manager. In her current role, she builds models and provides strategic analysis to optimize inventory levels for Beam Suntory’s entire US portfolio, which is approximately 3.2 million cases of products including Jim Beam, EFFEN and Hornitos. Her job is to evaluate the right balance of supply and demand to ensure there are enough products in stock to provide customers without having too much piling up in warehouses.

“I enjoy what I do because it gives me the flexibility to be creative and innovative with how to manage our inventory, and I rely on data to solidify my ideas,” said Bashore.

Bashore is grateful for female mentors who have guided her in her career progression in supply chain. When Beam Suntory launched Women Inspired to Strive and Empower (WISE), the Employee Impact Group for women, she immediately joined, and was later selected as a member of the leadership team and spearhead the education committee. 

“Education is my passion, and I see myself as a lifelong learner,” said Bashore. Her goal is to create programming to increase understanding of gender gaps when it comes to performance evaluation and pay, and to help women find their voice and strengths to best realize their full potential.

During her free time, Bashore enjoys gardening and cooking. She’ll occasionally prepare her favorite Vietnamese dishes, including Pho and Bún thịt nướng, which consists of vermicelli noodles, grilled pork and mixed vegetables with sweet & sour fish sauce, which she enjoys with her husband, Trent.

You can learn more about how Beam Suntory employees are “unleashing their spirit” around the world in our people profile series.