Tomatin Distillery boss Stephen Bremner expects no let-up anytime soon in global demand for single malt whiskies.
Consumers are still looking to “trade up” as they show a preference for quality drams, he said yesterday.
Mr Bremner, who became managing director last June after former boss Robert Anderson stepped away from the hotseat and headed into retirement, was speaking after accounts lodged at Companies House showed Japanese-owned Tomatin grew profits last year.
Pre-tax profits raced ahead to £4.55 million, from just over £4m in 2017, which Tomatin’s directors said was driven by an increase in sales of “high-margin branded goods”.
Turnover fell to £17.7m, from £18m previously, due to a “downturn in sales of bulk Scotch whisky”.
Mr Bremner said: “There is still huge demand for Scotch whisky worldwide, with a particular interest in single malt, which should allow us to continue to grow the Tomatin brand in the near to medium term.
“Consumers continue to trade up and the ‘drink less but better’ message has well and truly taken hold.
“This trend will allow us to utilise the vast array of aged stock we currently have in our portfolio.”
Two Japanese firms – Takara Shuzo and Okura – joined forces to acquire the business in 1986.