Kininvie Mothballed

[Iain M]

I heard today that Kininvie has been mothballed, indefinatly.

My source is reliable, however has anyone else heard anything.

[Nick Brown]

Not heard anything but the big problem with Kininvie was that their whisky wasn't very interesting. Just bland, sweet and a hint of vanilla. I understood that they had a big problem in working out what to do with the maturing whisky and last I heard, they were waiting for it to get old in the hope that it might develop complexity. The stillhouse was big enough to take more stills but when Wm Grant considered expanding a few years ago they opted for a new site instead of expanding Kininvie. I guess that was the writing on the wall.

[Mark C]

Very interesting. I was chatting to Chris from EWB on Friday and an idea discussed was older, age-statement expressions of Monkey Shoulder. Just thoughts and not something we'd heard.

[olikli]

Not heard anything but the big problem with Kininvie was that their whisky wasn't very interesting. Just bland, sweet and a hint of vanilla. I understood that they had a big problem in working out what to do with the maturing whisky and last I heard, they were waiting for it to get old in the hope that it might develop complexity. The stillhouse was big enough to take more stills but when Wm Grant considered expanding a few years ago they opted for a new site instead of expanding Kininvie. I guess that was the writing on the wall.

If this really is true, then isn't this the worst nightmare coming true for a whisky maker? A company with a track record like W. Grant proves unable to produce decent whisky in their new distillery? It's hard to believe indeed.

[Iain M]

If this really is true, then isn't this the worst nightmare coming true for a whisky maker? A company with a track record like W. Grant proves unable to produce decent whisky in their new distillery? It's hard to believe indeed.

Well look at it this way, W.Grants have opened how many new distilleries in the last 100 years? Having one fail and one succeed is not such a bad record, especially if the successful one is the larger one.

[hopkirk of the still]

I would be concerned at this news for a number of reasons. Kininvie doesn't sound as if it was ever intended to become a distillery in its own right the same way as Glenfiddich or Balvenie. It seems more like a production distillery for the blended brands, the main two being Grants and Monkey Shoulder. If William Grants forsee a lack of need for the whisky from Kinivie, it is because they either forsee a decline in demand for their blended brands, or forsee a decline in single malt sales, where the extra capacity freed up at Glenfiddich and Balvenie can be used to make up the shortfall from closing Kinivie. This seesm odd given the investment in Ailsa Bay. And releasing age statement versions of Monkey Shoulder would be a realigning of its focus on mixability and cocktails back to established whisky drinkers. Strange news.

[rodbod]

The trend over the last couple of years has been for a slight decline in Whisky / Whiskey consumption (down 0.8% in 2008-9, and down 0.4% in 2009-10, according to The Drinks Business trends report, (end of 2010)). So it makes sense from that point of view.

And it's not like you'll ever see a Kininvie EOS or Lalique, so no great loss really. Monkey Shoulder's too sweet.

[The Craw]

This seesm odd given the investment in Ailsa Bay.

I would say it makes perfect sense with the spirit produced from the stills down at Girvan now 3yo (spirit from Ailsa Bay started coming off the stills late in 2007 from what I have heard/read). Also, Ailsa Bay is apparently being produced in a style similar to that of Kininvie.

It's only a matter time before the similar Roseisle impact on Diageo's smaller distilleries, but here's hoping a few can end up in safe hands and flourish.

[lbacha]

This seesm odd given the investment in Ailsa Bay.

I would say it makes perfect sense with the spirit produced from the stills down at Girvan now 3yo (spirit from Ailsa Bay started coming off the stills late in 2007 from what I have heard/read). Also, Ailsa Bay is apparently being produced in a style similar to that of Kininvie.

It's only a matter time before the similar Roseisle impact on Diageo's smaller distilleries, but here's hoping a few can end up in safe hands and flourish.

Here is to hoping the economy turns around soon so that these small distilleries don't dissapear because of financial reasons. Most companies have cut as much cost as they can from payroll so the only thing left is the distilleries themselves. I have to imagine the upkeep on a 100+ year old location is extremly high so as long as companies are cash strapped because of the economic downturn I think all small distilleries are in jeapordy.

Len

[Nick Brown]

If this really is true, then isn't this the worst nightmare coming true for a whisky maker? A company with a track record like W. Grant proves unable to produce decent whisky in their new distillery? It's hard to believe indeed.

It's obviously not a good business outcome but Kininvie was a distillery only in name. It was really just a second Balvenie stillhouse - in much the same way as Glenfiddich has more than one stillroom.

[Iain M]

This seesm odd given the investment in Ailsa Bay.

I would say it makes perfect sense with the spirit produced from the stills down at Girvan now 3yo (spirit from Ailsa Bay started coming off the stills late in 2007 from what I have heard/read). Also, Ailsa Bay is apparently being produced in a style similar to that of Kininvie.

It's only a matter time before the similar Roseisle impact on Diageo's smaller distilleries, but here's hoping a few can end up in safe hands and flourish.

Here is to hoping the economy turns around soon so that these small distilleries don't dissapear because of financial reasons. Most companies have cut as much cost as they can from payroll so the only thing left is the distilleries themselves. I have to imagine the upkeep on a 100+ year old location is extremly high so as long as companies are cash strapped because of the economic downturn I think all small distilleries are in jeapordy.

Len

The situation with Diageo is completely different to that of Kininvie, Kininvie has often been problematic in terms of meeting character requirements (apparently) this probably won't affect Grant's at all, especially if their acheiveing far better results at Ailsa Bay.

Monkey Shoulder will be fine for a while, they will just start using Ailsa Bay whisky.

I for one do not expect a closure from Diageo in the near future with the money they are spending on their distilleries at the moment. Many of their distilleries are having substantial investments (efficiency related mostly) = ok, not on the scale of Roseisle but still substantial. I am sticking to the optimistic story and that Roseisle won't affect current distillery status within Diageo.

The whisky industry is durable - chin up guys

[Mark C]

I asked Ludo about this and he says that they close Kininvie down every year once the target output has been met. This year they are just undecided whether or not to reopen it again.

[Iain M]

I asked Ludo about this and he says that they close Kininvie down every year once the target output has been met. This year they are just undecided whether or not to reopen it again.

When I was at Balvenie two weeks ago I was reassured that Kininvie would re-open next year.

They are currently not happy with the character and are 'tweaking' it . Also got a good look around (except still house of course). To our suprise we got a beauty of a photo !

So its great to see the Kininvie Mash Tun being put to 'excellent use'!



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[Mr Tattie Heid]

Will Kininvie reopen? Quoth the raven....

[BigMac]

Kininvie will reopen this autumn...

http://themaltdesk.blogspot.dk/2012/07/ ... start.html