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Heaven Hill Brands has announced it will cease bottling operations at its Black Velvet whisky distillery in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. Known for its offerings – such as Burnett’s vodkas, dry gin and Admiral Nelson’s spiced rum – Heaven Hill Brands purchased the Canadian whisky brand in 2019. Debbie Morris, chief operations officer of Heaven Hill Brands, explained: “After extensive deliberation and a comprehensive financial analysis, Heaven Hill Brands has made the challenging decision that revitalising on-site bottling operations is financially unfeasible”. A decline in production prompted the decision to halt operations, with Morris pointing to “ageing equipment” and a lack of investment by the previous owners of the bottling facility as contributing factors. The bottling operation is slated to relocate to Kentucky, US, and employees affected by the closure in Lethbridge will be offered "free outplacement services." Despite the discontinuation of bottling operations, Heaven Hill Brands affirms that distilling activities will persist in the city, emphasising the brand's unwavering commitment to ongoing success. Describing the decision to keep the distilling process in Lethbridge as strategic, the company asserts that the Black Velvet brand remains robust. The closing of the bottling site is anticipated to be in the last week of February. However, Heaven Hill has yet to confirm a specific date.