Briggs of Burton was the Diamond Sponsor of the Worldwide Distilled Spirits Conference (WDSC) 2026, held at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre from 4-7 May, reinforcing its position as a leading distilling engineering company within the global spirits industry. The company also contributed to the overall conference experience, including participation in key networking activities.

Recognised as a leading international forum for science, technology, and innovation in distilled spirits production, WDSC brings together producers, suppliers, researchers, and industry experts from across the distilled spirits sector. The 2026 edition attracted a strong international audience representing whisky, gin, rum, vodka, and emerging craft spirit markets.

Supporting a Global Platform for Innovation

BRIGGS’ sponsorship reflects its continued commitment to supporting industry dialogue and advancing technical excellence in distillation. Events such as WDSC provide a valuable platform for sharing expertise, exploring emerging technologies, and addressing key challenges facing producers worldwide – from sustainability targets to evolving consumer expectations – while aligning BRIGGS with forward-thinking distillers and decision-makers navigating a rapidly evolving landscape.

Against a backdrop of shifting consumer preferences, tightening regulations, and increasing sustainability demands, the conference serves as a vital forum for knowledge exchange and innovation.

Showcasing Innovation in Distilling Technology

During the conference, BRIGGS showcased its latest advancements in distillation and process engineering, including modular and turnkey systems designed to meet the needs of both established producers and emerging brands.

Key technologies highlighted included:

• Modular distillery concepts – offering flexibility and scalability for new and expanding operations.
• Advanced process integration – optimising energy use and improving operational efficiency.
• Sustainable engineering solutions – designed to reduce water, energy, and carbon footprints.

With growing emphasis on decarbonisation and resource efficiency across the industry, BRIGGS’ solutions demonstrated how distillers could meet environmental goals without compromising performance or product quality.

CLPT Group Expertise

At Stand #20, BRIGGS welcomed delegates to explore the latest distilling equipment, technologies, and global project experience delivered by our CLPT Group.

Experts were available to discuss solutions across the entire distillery process and project lifecycle, including:

• Raw material handling and processing.
• Distillation and maturation systems.
• Utilities and hygienic process systems.
• Large-scale stainless steel vessel design and manufacture.
• Integrated engineering and automation solutions.

Group Capabilities on Display

• Briggs of Burton (BRIGGS) – specialist distilling process engineering and turnkey project delivery.
• McMillan Coppersmiths & Fabricators – traditional copper craftsmanship combined with modern distilling engineering.
• CLPT Group expertise – insights covering distillation, maturation, utilities, hygienic and sustainable processing, digitalisation and systems integration.

Whether focused on process equipment, integrated solutions, digitalisation strategies, or sustainability, delegates were able to engage directly with technical experts across multiple disciplines.

Featured Technical Sessions

Conference attendees also had the opportunity to attend BRIGGS technical sessions:

• Latest performance of MVR at The GlenAllachie Distillery – presented the latest developments in Thermo Energy Recovery.
• ProLeiT Demo: The Digital Backbone of a Modern Distillery – ProLeiT presented the latest approach to process automation of distilleries.

These sessions highlighted trends in distillery automation, digital transformation, and energy efficiency technologies.

Supporting Industry Growth and Knowledge Sharing

Alongside our presence at the exhibition, Briggs of Burton and the wider CLPT Group took an active role in the WDSC technical programme, delivering both e-Poster presentations and panel contributions across key industry topics:

• Process Modelling of Distillation Column Systems – From Simulation to Design Validation. 
• Total Carbon Ownership (TCO₂): Balancing Embodied & Operational CO2, and Payback in Process Equipment Decisions.
• Copper Contact and Condenser Design: Material Compatibility and Sustainable Innovation in Distillation.
• Co-Product Utilisation – Zeroing your distillery: Valorising Draff for Fossil-Free Heat Supply.
• Distillery Sustainability Panel – MVR in the real world.

A Standout Networking Experience: 80s Retro Rewind!

As Diamond Sponsor, BRIGGS also proudly hosted the WDSC Wednesday evening social, themed ‘80s Retro Rewind’ – a highlight of the conference networking programme.

Held at Dynamic Earth, the event combined entertainment, industry engagement, and nostalgia, celebrating a decade defined by bold innovation and engineering progress. Guests were welcomed with cocktails provided by Glenmorangie, followed by an evening of food, entertainment, and interactive experiences.

The event paid tribute to an era when engineering pushed boundaries, including milestones such as the installation of early MVR systems in Scotland, while offering a memorable and informal setting for industry professionals to connect.

Strengthening Industry Relationships

The conference provided an important opportunity for BRIGGS to strengthen relationships across the distilled spirits value chain. Its presence at WDSC 2026 enabled engagement with clients, collaborators, and prospective partners, reinforcing its role as a trusted engineering partner from concept through to commissioning.

Drawing on decades of experience, BRIGGS continues to support both established global producers and innovative new entrants across the sector.

Looking Ahead

As the global spirits market continues to expand, particularly in premium and emerging segments, BRIGGS’ involvement in WDSC 2026 underscored its ambition to remain at the forefront of engineering excellence.

With a strong heritage in brewing and distilling and a growing portfolio of advanced process solutions, BRIGGS is well positioned to support the next generation of distilleries worldwide.

Briggs of Burton and McMillan Coppersmiths were proud to attend this year’s Spirit of Speyside Festival Dinner, an important fixture in the distilling calendar that brings together industry leaders, partners, and innovators from across the region.

While the event itself provides a valuable opportunity for connection, our presence reflects something deeper: our long-standing commitment to Speyside and the many distilleries we have supported over the years.

A Strong Heritage in Speyside

BRIGGS and McMillan have a well-established footprint across Speyside, having successfully delivered a wide range of projects in collaboration with some of the region’s most respected producers. From process design and engineering to the manufacture and installation of copper stills and associated systems, our combined expertise has contributed to the development, expansion, and optimisation of numerous distilleries.

The dinner provided an excellent opportunity to reconnect with valued clients and partners, reinforcing relationships built on trust, technical excellence, and shared ambition.

Continuing Investment in the Region

Our engagement in Speyside is very much ongoing. BRIGGS and McMillan are currently involved in several active projects across the area, supporting both brownfield expansions and new-build distilleries. These projects range from capacity increases and process upgrades to the delivery of bespoke distillation systems and integrated plant solutions.

This continued investment underlines our confidence in the long-term strength of the Scotch whisky industry and our commitment to supporting its growth with innovative, high-quality engineering.

Looking Ahead

As the Speyside region continues to evolve, BRIGGS and McMillan remain dedicated partners to the distilling community. Our presence at this year’s event reflects both our heritage in the region and our active role in shaping its future.

We look forward to continuing our work with existing customers and developing new partnerships as we support the next generation of distilling excellence in Speyside.

The year 2025 saw several significant moments in the life of The GlenAllachie Distillery. Not only was its 12-year-old expression named the World’s Best Single Malt at the World Whiskies Awards, a ground-breaking expansion project, undertaken together with Briggs of Burton, also was completed.

BRIGGS’ partnership with the team at GlenAllachie has delivered a cutting-edge production set-up that’s enabled incredible energy savings within the wash distillation process.

The project integrated a BRIGGS ThermoDrive unit to each of the two large (21,000 litre) wash stills at The GlenAllachie, which, importantly for the BRIGGS Group, were originally crafted by McMillan Coppersmiths (now owned by BRIGGS). This high-tech mechanical vapour recompression (MVR) system is letting The GlenAllachie slash its energy usage, by recycling heat that would otherwise be wasted during distillation. The technology was retrofitted to an existing stillhouse which first produced whisky in 1968, making the scheme’s realisation all the more notable.

It’s anticipated that the system will save 367 tCO2e per year, equivalent to the annual use of 183 diesel cars. In short, it maximises stillhouse efficiency, providing 90%+ energy savings during wash distillation. On average, it’s estimated that such efficiency translates to system payback in three years, depending on certain variables. BRIGGS ThermoDrive is just one solution within BRIGGS’ Thermo energy recovery systems range, which are helping the Scotch whisky industry’s efforts to decarbonise through fresh, sustainability-focused innovations.

The GlenAllachie and BRIGGS have both appreciated the partnership that’s allowed this success story to develop. Alan McConnachie, GlenAllachie’s Distillery Manager, actually came out of retirement to run the project, and it seems the outcome has justified his choice.

“It’s great to see BRIGGS ThermoDrive working and achieving the efficiency we hoped it would,” Alan commented. “Every day now, we’re making significant savings in our energy consumption and to our CO₂ emissions, so it’s really driving us towards our sustainability targets. The project was supported by the Scottish Industrial Energy Transformation Fund (SIETF) and, as you might expect with next-generation technology, getting the system up and running hasn’t been easy. But the results speak for themselves, it’s definitely been worth it.”

What a fantastic few days in Lexington for the 7th Annual James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits Industry Conference!

Our BRIGGS team had a brilliant time connecting with distilling professionals, researchers, and industry leaders as we explored the innovations, challenges, and opportunities shaping the future of the spirits sector. A huge thank you to everyone who stopped by Booth 68 to meet the team and chat with Reay Dicks and Alex Hoekstra. Great conversations, new ideas, and plenty of energy around distilling technology.

We were especially proud to contribute to the technical programme with two insightful presentations:

• Dr. Ben Connolly – Demystifying Heat Recovery and Integration in Distilleries
• Andrew Mieleniewski – Alternative Technology for Wet Cake Handling in Distilling
  

Both sessions sparked valuable discussions around energy optimisation and operational efficiency.

Thank you to the organisers, partners, and attendees for another excellent industry gathering. We’re already looking forward to continuing these conversations and driving innovation across the spirits sector.

The global whisky community gathered in Dali, Yunnan, China this March for the ‘Icons of Whisky’ and ‘World Whiskies Awards’ celebrations, bringing together leading distillers, suppliers, and industry experts for two days of knowledge exchange, recognition, and forward-looking discussions.

The event, which ran across the 14-15 March provided a platform for innovation and collaboration, serving as a hub for both established and emerging voices within the whisky sector. Delegates explored the full range of whisky production from equipment and process design to maturation techniques and flavour development, highlighting the technical craftsmanship underpinning the industry’s continued evolution.

Roundtable discussions focused strongly on the future of Chinese whisky, with particular attention on how local terroir can shape distinctive regional identities. These sessions reflected the growing confidence and ambition within China’s whisky sector, as producers seek to define a unique voice on the global stage.

Celebrating Excellence: ‘Icons of Whisky’ – China 2026

The highlight of the celebrations took place on 15 March, when the ‘Icons of Whisky’ winners were announced under the theme: “Never Compromise, Be Yourself.” Around 30 category winners were recognised, including: distilleries, individuals and teams, marketing excellence and visitor experiences. In addition, 9 ‘World Whiskies Awards’ winners were honoured during the ceremony, celebrating outstanding achievements in whisky production.

Strong Presence from Briggs of Burton as part of the CLTP Group

As lead event sponsors, Briggs of Burton played a prominent role in supporting this year’s event, reinforcing their commitment to the development of the Chinese whisky industry.

The CLPT Group had a significant presence and impact throughout the event:

• Leo Yang Xiaohu, President of CIMC Enric Holdings, delivered the opening speech at the awards ceremony, setting the tone for the celebrations and emphasising innovation and collaboration across the sector.
• Lars Roed, Vice President of CLPT Group and General Manager of CLPT China, representing the Group’s leadership within the industry, took to the stage to present the ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ awarded to Edison Chiao, Distillery Manager of Yuntuo Distillery, and Lin Fou-Menuhin, Corporate Relations Director, Greater China, Diageo. Yuntuo Distillery also received the ‘Production Team of the Year’ and ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’ awards. Lars was also invited to join a dialogue on Whisky and Yunnan Cultural Tourism Integration, contributing to a dynamic discussion on how whisky production can connect with regional culture and tourism development.
• Kevin Leach, Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Briggs of Burton, delivered a highly regarded presentation on the ‘BRIGGS WhiskyOne’ product, offering a go to market approach for a complete 1 to 2 Te malt whisky distillery. Highlighting the Group’s expertise in distillery engineering and commercial strategy.

Supporting the Future of Chinese Whisky

Briggs of Burton and CLPT Group’s continued involvement as sponsors and thought leaders demonstrates their ongoing commitment to supporting innovation, collaboration, and sustainable growth within China’s rapidly evolving whisky landscape.

As the industry continues to expand, events such as the ‘Icons of Whisky’ highlight the importance of technical excellence, cultural integration, and regional identity – all key drivers shaping the next chapter of Chinese whisky.

Briggs of Burton recently attended the 6th Annual James B Beam Conference, engaging with global leaders in the distilled spirits industry to discuss the future of distilling technologies and sustainable production.

Representing BRIGGS at the event were Reay Dicks (VP, Briggs of Burton, Inc.), Alex Hoekstra (Senior Project Engineer), and Ben Connolly (Lead Research and Development Engineer). Ben delivered a well-received presentation on BRIGGS ThermoDrive – our Mechanical Vapour Recompression (MVR) solution – highlighting its potential to deliver significant energy and water savings for distilleries worldwide.

The conference was an excellent platform for exchanging ideas, showcasing innovations, and reinforcing BRIGGS’ position as a trusted partner within the bourbon industry.

Key BRIGGS deliverables for Bourbon Whiskey distilleries

With a multi-disciplinary team experienced in working across the engineering sector, our approach here at BRIGGS is always to exceed expectations and deliver absolute excellence. 

Our specialisms towards supporting Bourbon Whiskey, in particular, focus on Front End Loading (FEL) 1 design studies exploring water, carbon and energy savings, technologies such as Thermal and Mechanical Vapour Recompression (TVR / MVR), specialist stainless steel and copper distillation equipment, utility design and planning, 3D laser scanning of existing production facilities, Hazard and Operability Analysis (HAZOP) / Process Hazard Analysis (PHA), commissioning and turnkey project implementation.

Reach out to our sales team to discover more about developing your Bourbon Whiskey distillery today.