Getting into the spirit: Bombay Sapphire plans for further expansion
Gin production will exceed the site’s annual output potential of 3.5M nine-litre cases, said Nik Fordham, master distiller. “Potential output of the whole site, theoretically, is somewhere around 3.5M nine-litre cases a year,” he added.
However, as soon as output reached anywhere near the 3M nine-litre case litre mark, there were plans to install two more stills at the site, which would boost production by another 33%, he added.
Sales
Fordham would not disclose the current output of the site. But previous reports have indicated that sales had tripled since Bacardi bought the brand in 1998.
“Another still house would cost several millions of pounds to bring into operation, at least. But it absolutely will happen because the brand has been so successful over the past 10 years,” said Fordham.
If Bacardi was to invest in two more stills, the site would house six in total and would operate in conjunction with its existing two 3,400 litre stills and two 12,000 litre stills already on the site.
New site
The new Hampshire site, which was built specifically for the Bacardi-owned brand, started distilling Bombay Sapphire last year after more than two decades of production under license at G&J Distillers in Warrington.
The cost of building the Laverstoke distillery was not disclosed, however, it has been rumoured Bacardi invested more than £26M in the redevelopment of the mill, which once produced bank notes for the British Empire.
Laverstoke Mill, which was acquired by Bacardi in 2010, is the brand’s home and opened its visitor experience centre to the public earlier this month (October).
