Whisky-maker Inver House Distillers (IHD) is targeting countries including India, Kazakhstan and Poland for growth after a £10million investment in increased maturation capacity.
The firm, whose brands include anCnoc, Balblair, Balmenach, Knockdhu, Old Pulteney and Speyburn, said prospects for a “fruitful year of growth” followed a busy 2015.
The company completed the construction of 12 new warehouses last year, increasing its total capacity to more than 600,000 casks of whisky.
An additional 20,000 casks were filled and stored in these new warehouses, which IHD said allowed it to operate more efficiently.
The investment, which was funded by Bank of Scotland (BoS), meant the distiller could free up space in the existing warehouses and move casks in and out more quickly.
IHD currently exports most of its whisky to markets in Europe, the US, Africa and Far East.
India proved to be a successful new market last year, with IHD launching Old Pulteney, Balblair and Speyburn Single Malt Scotch whiskies in the country as well as its super premium Caorunn gin.
The BoS funding was also used to more than double production capacity at Speyburn distillery on Speyside. It is now capable of producing the equivalent of 6million standard 70cl bottles of whisky a year.
IHD managing director Graham Stevenson said: “Our brands performed well in 2015, growing and laying the foundations in many new international markets.
“We anticipate further opportunities and this growth will be underpinned in the coming years by the increased capacity, in terms of production and maturation storage, created as part of our investment programme.”
BoS relationship director Mark Hull added: “Although emerging market prospects are on the long term agenda for Inver House, the business continues to build a solid base in those areas to stand it in good stead for the future.”