In no time, the Philippines may join the ranks of prominent global liquor manufacturers.
Apparently, the stature would be reached as local giants gobble up moribund spirits producers.
Emperador Inc., for instance, is positioning itself as a significant player in the global premium liquor market, particularly in the premium whisky and brandy segments, through strategic acquisitions complemented by robust international expansion and a focus on premiumization.
It now owns global brands like Whyte & Mackay and Fundador. Whyte & Mackay, a premium whisky brand, is ambitiously expanding in Scotland, a worldwide hub for Scotch whisky production.
The Dalmore Distillery expansion in Alness, Scotland, is expected to double the brand’s production capacity.
The Dalmore is renowned for its luxury positioning and commands premium prices. A bottle of The Dalmore Brilliance sold for 250,000 euros, setting a world record.
The amount was a retail purchase at Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, which set a record for the highest-value sale of an individual spirit in travel retail.
The expansion plan includes a new visitor experience, which could boost brand visibility and tourism-related revenue.
Whyte & Mackay is doubling the footprint of its whisky maturation complex at Invergordon from 45.4 hectares to 92 hectares. This expansion will accommodate an additional 1.5 million casks of maturing whisky, addressing the global scarcity of aged whisky stocks.
Emperador is capitalizing on the global trend toward premiumization. Consumers are increasingly seeking high-quality, high-margin spirits, particularly in Asia, where affluence is growing with premium liquor demand.
Single malt whiskies, which account for 70 percent of Whyte & Mackay’s branded Scotch whisky sales, are particularly lucrative, with higher margins than blended or standard brandy offerings.
Emperador’s dominance in the global brandy market remains a cornerstone, as it maintains its distinction as the world’s largest brandy producer by volume.
Emperador commands a 98-percent share of the domestic Philippine brandy market and owns globally recognized brands like Fundador, Spain’s largest brandy, and Presidente, Mexico’s top-selling brandy.
The company’s 2015 acquisition of Bodegas Fundador and Domecq brandies in Mexico has strengthened its position in the premium brandy segment, with products like Fundador Supremo 18 winning prestigious awards.
In 2025, Emperador further diversified its portfolio by acquiring a 60-percent stake in Mexico’s Destileria Los Danzantes, a premium mezcal producer, for P225 million.