Subject: Weekly Whisky Investment Update | February 18–25, 2026
Hello Subscribers, here is your summary of the most significant developments in the whisky industry and secondary market from the past seven days.
Suntory Global Spirits Consolidates Islay Operations
In a major structural shift for two of the industry’s most prominent investment brands, Suntory Global Spirits (SGS) announced on February 24, 2026, that it is merging the operational teams at its Bowmore and Laphroaig distilleries on the Isle of Islay. The company is moving to a single operations team across both sites to “align production with long-term demand.” While SGS confirmed that distillation will continue at both distilleries and visitor centers will remain open, they have launched a voluntary redundancy program for staff as part of this efficiency drive. The move is described as a forward-looking adjustment to balance current distillation volumes with maturing inventory.
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Market Performance: Suntory and Diageo Updates
Recent financial reports analyzed this week highlight a cooling global spirits market. Suntory Holdings reported a 1.4% decline in total alcohol sales for the 2025 fiscal year, attributed to a consumption slowdown in the United States and Europe. Despite the overall dip, the group noted “strong growth” within its Japanese whisky portfolio (specifically Yamazaki and Hibiki) and its premium gin brands. Simultaneously, reports surfaced regarding Diageo considering the closure of the visitor center at Clynelish, though the company emphasized that whisky production at the site is not affected. These updates reflect a broader industry trend of major producers recalibrating their physical footprints and production targets to meet shifting global demand.
Secondary Market and New Releases
Activity in the secondary and boutique markets remained focused on rarity and accessibility expansion during the last seven days:
- New Independent Bottlings: North Star Spirits released a Caol Ila 2014 8-Year-Old on February 24, 2026, as part of their latest collection of “Obscurities & Curiosities.”
- Market Accessibility: The global whisky marketplace Frootbat officially launched its operations in the UK and Singapore on February 24, 2026, aimed at increasing transparency and cross-border trade for collectors.
- Production Trends: Industry analysts noted that several producers, including Rosebank (Ian Macleod Distillers) and Glenglassaugh (Brown-Forman), are currently following similar “shared production models” to Suntory’s Islay move, signaling a sector-wide focus on operational sustainability over aggressive expansion.
Auction Highlights
Recent auction data continues to show The Macallan as the dominant force in high-value secondary trade. While pricing for standard collectible releases has stabilized at lower points compared to early 2025, “showpiece” bottles from Springbank, Bowmore, and The Dalmore continue to demonstrate resilience in mid-tier and trophy-led auction segments.
Thank you for staying informed with us. We will continue to track these operational shifts and their impact on the global whisky landscape.
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Cheers,
The WhiskyReturns Team
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This article is a summary provided via automated data aggregation for informational purposes only and does
not constitute financial advice. While we strive for accuracy, this report may contain errors or omissions;
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