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15 November 2022

The Artisanal Spirits Company plc

("The Artisanal Spirits Company", "ASC" or the "Group")

Update on Masterton Bond Facility

and

 MelloLondon Investor Event

The Artisanal Spirits Company (AIM: ART), curators of the world's favourite, single-cask and limited-edition whisky, and owner of The Scotch Malt Whisky Society ("SMWS"), is pleased to provide an update on progress of the Group's Masterton Bond supply chain facility. 

The Group also provides details of its participation in the forthcoming MelloLondon Investor Event on Wednesday 16 November 2022 in Chiswick, London.

Masterton Bond Update

Good progress continues to be made in relation to the Group's new multi-purpose supply chain facility at Masterton Bond, near Glasgow.  Progressing to schedule and on budget, the site has completed its construction phase and moved to the commissioning phase, and has now commenced initial bottling operations. The plan is for phased development over the coming months and it is anticipated that the facility will be fully operational during Q1 2023 as planned, providing production, cask storage, fulfilment and distribution of ASC's whisky and other spirit stock from this state-of-the-art, new warehouse and supply chain facility. 

It is anticipated that, once fully operational, this facility will improve operating margins by c.2%, with the initial benefits expected to be gained early in FY23.

Mello London Investor Conference

The Artisanal Spirits Company is also pleased to announce that the Group will be presenting at the MelloLondon investor conference on Wednesday 16 November 2022, to be held at the Clayton Hotel Chiswick, Chiswick High Road, London, W4 5RY. David Ridley, Managing Director, and Andrew Dane, Finance Director, will present to delegates and take questions at 10.15am and 2.55pm that day. For further information and tickets (use code SH70 for 70% off ticket price) for the MelloLondon conference, please visit the event website at https://melloevents.com/mello-london-tickets/

David Ridley, Managing Director, commented:

"I am delighted to report that we continue to make good progress with our new Masterton Bond supply chain facility which commenced initial production operations this week.  This is an exciting milestone in ASC's continued development which we are confident will deliver tangible operating margin upside of around 2% in FY23."

For further information, please contact:

Notes to Editors:  The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC) are curators of the world's favourite, single-cask and limited-edition whisky.

Based in Edinburgh, ASC owns The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) which was established in 1983 and currently has a growing worldwide membership of just over 36,000 paying members.

SMWS provides members with inspiring experiences, content and exclusive access to a vast and unique range of outstanding single cask Scotch malt whiskies and other craft spirits, sourced from over 100 distilleries in 20 countries and expertly curated with diligence and care.

Since producing the Society's very first cask, we have created around 10,000 different whisky releases, producing a constant flow of unique and exciting one-of-a-kind whiskies.

With proven e-commerce reach and new brands like J.G. Thomson, ASC is building a portfolio of small-batch spirits brands for a global movement of discerning consumers - delivering c. £20 million in annual revenues with over 80% of revenue generated online and over 65% from outside the UK, with a growing presence in the key global whisky markets including UK, China, USA and Europe.

ASC has a pioneering business model, a substantial and growing addressable market presenting a long-term global growth opportunity and a strong and resilient business, primed to deliver growth.