Eden Mill distillery sold in prepack deal after administration triggered by debt and market downturn

Eden Mill, the St Andrews gin and whisky producer known for its expanding visitor destination on the Eden Campus, has been sold in a prepack administration to Dundee-based investor Ruby Capital after months of tightening liquidity and mounting sector headwinds pushed the business into insolvency.

Kenny Craig and Kevin Mapstone of Begbies Traynor were appointed joint administrators on 18 November and immediately completed the sale, which transfers the business and assets of St Andrews Brewers, trading as Eden Mill Distillery, to Ruby Capital and preserves all 42 jobs.

The group had been attempting to stabilise its capital structure following a drop in sales, significant cost inflation, and delays to the opening of its flagship distillery and visitor centre, a project that opened roughly a year later than planned and placed additional strain on working capital. Administrators said the company also carried substantial debt linked to weakness in the global whisky market, where changing consumer behaviour, reduced export demand, and higher input costs have weighed heavily on producers.

Ruby Capital, already a minority investor, will continue operating the distillery and visitor centre while evaluating future product development and brand growth. Begbies Traynor noted that the accelerated transaction was necessary to protect the value of Eden Mill’s asset base and secure continuity for employees, customers, and suppliers.