BrewDog has announced it will cease production of its spirits brands and close its distillery in Aberdeenshire.

The Scottish brewer, which built the distillery in Ellon in 2015, will halt production of its distilling brands in the coming months. These include LoneWolf Gin, Abstrakt Vodka, Duo Rum and Casa Rayos Tequila. However, the company has confirmed it will continue to produce its Wonderland ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktail range.

Last year, BrewDog reported losses of £37m, and earlier this year it announced the closure of 10 pubs across the UK. It has also been recently rumoured that company founder James Watt is considering buying back control of the business, having stepped down as chief executive in 2024.

Commenting on the news, a company spokesperson from BrewDog, which is best known for its beer portfolio, including the Punk IPA brand, said: “After careful consideration, we’ve made the difficult decision to cease production of our distilling brands, with the exception of Wonderland cocktails. This will allow us to sharpen our focus and concentrate our efforts on our beer business and the continued growth of Wonderland. We’re incredibly proud of what the distillery team has built and want to thank everyone who has worked on, contributed to, and supported the distilling business over the years.”

The future of the distillery remains unclear, as does the potential impact on jobs at the Aberdeenshire site.