Whisky Slowdown Reaches Islay as Two Mayor Distilleries Scale Down

Two major Scottish distilleries on Islay are hitting the brakes on whisky production. At both Laphroaig and Bowmore, the stills will be running at a lower heat. And that’s not the only change underway.

Suntory Global Spirits announced the changes at the Islay distilleries in a joint statement. Both distilleries will not only scale back production, but also streamline their teams.

With this move, Suntory is responding to shifts in the whisky market and a waning appetite for the water of life.

The distilleries aren’t shutting down entirely, but they will be distilling significantly less for the time being. For Bowmore, this marks a second measure in quick succession—production there had already been temporarily halted in 2025.

As for staffing, a major reorganization has been announced. The operational teams will be combined into a new structure. Employees who choose not to transition will be offered a voluntary exit package. According to Suntory, there will be no compulsory redundancies.

The management teams at both distilleries will remain separate to safeguard each brand’s identity and positioning.

At Laphroaig, the measures go a step further. In addition to reduced output and reorganization, another plan has been put on hold.

The planned expansion of Laphroaig will not go ahead for now. Investment plans have been paused indefinitely. They haven’t been scrapped outright and could be revisited at a later date.

In recent months, the whisky market has been changing dramatically. As a result, several distilleries have already closed their doors, while others have cut back production or paused it temporarily. Laphroaig and Bowmore are no exception, though it’s encouraging that both brands are looking to secure their future by pooling resources behind the scenes.