Diageo Unveils Huge Chinese Whisky Distillery
In November 2021, Diageo revealed plans to build a malt whisky distillery in Yunnan County, Eryuan County, China. The Protect is part of a US$120 million business plan that will include a community center.
Diageo’s investment will be phased over nine years, in order to make China a whisky leader. The YunTuo Single Malt Whisky Distillery is located at 2,100 meters above sea level, where the climate is temperate, and there is abundant natural biodiversity.
In addition, YunTuo will be able to use Yunnan oak for cask maturation alongside other local ingredients in its production. The name is meant to represent the distillery’s surroundings and its vision, ‘Yun’ meaning ‘clouds’ and ‘Tuo’ meaning ‘exploration’.
Diageo Unveils Huge Chinese Whisky Distillery
Debra Crew, Diageo CEO, said the new site reflects the company’s “confidence in the future of Chinese whisky”.
She continued: “Our ambition is to combine our global heritage and whisky-making craftsmanship with deep local insights to create the highest quality China-origin single malt whisky that will fire the imagination of whisky enthusiasts worldwide and place China firmly on the global whisky map.”
Several Diageo brands are represented by YunTuo, including former Johnnie Walker master blender Jim Beveridge, former Scotch whisky master Craig Wallace, and former Scotch whisky master Andrew Millsopp.
Visitors can also tour YunTuo’s production, enjoy tastings, gifts, and learn about its cultural aspects. The tour culminates with a 29-meter-tall whisky barrel tower decorated with 1,000 original casks.
One of the special features of the visitor center is that it is carbon-neutral, using electric boilers and renewable green energy. All water waste is recycled at the site, reducing waste. Diageo hopes to grow YunTuo as a tourist destination in the future.
To that extent, Diageo has established a local Community Fund to support inclusion and diversity around the distillery, and a new community center is expected to open soon.
Furthermore, Diageo’s Learning for Life program has teamed up with the Tourism Association in nearby Dali to provide business and hospitality skills training to young adults. The program has improved employment opportunities for more than 600 graduates locally.
Crew added: “The beauty of Eryuan has inspired us to build this wonderful beacon of local whisky culture that will make YunTuo the pride of Chinese whisky and a jewel in our global whisky portfolio. We look forward to an exciting journey filled with adventure, exploration, and discovery.”
