Scotch whisky distiller William Grant & Sons unveiled its latest financial results in a somewhat understated manner this week.

In a press release, it announced it had made after-tax profits of £444 million in the year to December 31, 2023, on turnover of £1.962 billion.

It did not, in the release, mention the comparative figures for 2022.

And there was not any particular fanfare about what are actually very impressive rises in profits and turnover last year at William Grant & Sons, which makes the Glenfiddich single malt Scotch whisky and Hendrick’s gin.

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A look back at the prior-year results, available on William Grant & Sons’ website, shows that the family-owned distiller made after-tax profits of £331.3m on turnover of £1.721bn in 2022. So after-tax profits were up by about 34% last year, on the back of a 14% increase in turnover.

What is more, the profits and turnover in 2022 were up by 33.8% and 21.7% respectively on those for 2021, making the increases last year look all the more impressive.

William Grant & Sons, while not shouting about rises in profits and turnover from the rooftops, did note that it had performed “strongly”.

There is certainly no arguing with this somewhat matter-of-fact assessment.

William Grant & Sons also highlighted its long-term approach, a most impressive aspect of the company.

It published its financial results the week after it emerged that it is buying The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt blended Scotch whisky brands from Glasgow-based distiller Edrington, which owns The Macallan.

Edrington highlighted when it announced this deal last week its focus on the ultra-premium segment, and its belief that it was the “right........

© Herald Scotland