Diageo puts plans for whisky distillery on ice

A worker walks past the headquarters of Diageo in London.

Martinne Geller

Diageo, the world's largest maker of Scotch whisky, is delaying plans to expand its production capacity in Scotland as a global economic slowdown curbs the world's thirst for the spirit.

In 2012, the maker of whiskies including Bushmills here in Ireland and Johnnie Walker, J&B and Talisker in Scotland, said it would spend more than £1bn (€1.27bn) over five years to expand Scotch production to meet growing demand in emerging markets.