EAST Kilbride-based Burn ­Stewart Distillers has highlighted the steady progress made by its Scottish Leader blend in Asia and its malts in the US and Russia as it reported a rise in pre-tax profits to £6.6 million.

The distiller's latest results, for the year ended December 31, 2012, were booked as its new owner, South African drinks giant Distell, continues to integrate the business it acquired for £160m in April. No structural changes have been made at Burn Stewart since the deal went through.

Burn Stewart, which revealed details yesterday of a deeper, richer recipe and bottle design for its Black Bottle blend, saw turnover rise by 4.3% to £59.9m.

The year saw the firm invest £500,000 in a new bottling line in East Kilbride, which it said will allow it to take advantage of further growth in international markets. Growth is being targeted by the distiller in Asia, where a move into China is slated for Scottish Leader as the market for mainstream whisky develops, and across Africa on the strength of Distell's distribution network.

Scottish Leader already enjoys a significant presence in countries across southern Africa.

Burn Stewart, whose brands include the Bunnahabhain, Deanston, Tobermory and Ledaig malts, also launched a new visitor centre at its Deanston Distillery near Stirling, over the period.

Managing director Fraser Thornton said: "It is nice to see the business continue to move ahead. There is no dramatic, underlying growth. Our brands, in volume terms, moved forward by about 5% overall.

"That growth has really come from Scottish Leader continuing to do well in Asia and the malt brands growing primarily in North America and Russia. Those have been the main areas of growth for us."

Mr Thornton explained the distiller was not chasing new markets for its malts, noting that its inventory levels could not support anything beyond "slow but steady growth, nothing more dramatic".

But he expects faster growth to be achieved by flagship blends Scottish Leader and Black Bottle, thanks in part to the distribution strength brought by Distell.

Burn Stewart, which has run a sales operation in Taiwan for almost 20 years, is now eyeing growth for Scottish Leader in other Asian markets such as Vietnam and Cambodia.

Mr Thornton sees an opportunity for Scottish Leader in China as the market evolves from a luxury only to a mainstream whisky market, particularly as Distell runs an operation in the country.

Meanwhile, Burn Stewart has relaunched Black Bottle with a new formula and bottle design, made from black glass, that aims to appeal to appeal to existing drinkers and new consumers.

Mr Thornton said the changes mark the return of the blend to its roots in the north east, when it was formulated by the Graham brothers more than 100 years ago.

It means the brand will no longer be sold on the proposition of containing all the malts made on Islay, though it still includes malt from the island.

Mr Thornton said the whisky retains its smoky distinctiveness, but is a richer, fuller blend.

He added: "In overall terms, it is try and engage a wider consumer base, both domestically and internationally."

The new Black Bottle will also be priced at a 10% premium to its previous incarnation in the region of £18.50 to £19 per bottle. And while Black Bottle's main markets of Scotland and the UK will continue to be priorities, the distiller is targeting growth in the US, Russia, Germany and France in the next couple of years.

Mr Thornton said: "It is not just a packaging upgrade - it is an improved product and an improved consumer experience in total terms. We would really like to believe that the existing consumer base will come along with us while we hopefully attract new consumers to a slightly upgraded and enhance brand.

He added: "As an export opportunity it is significantly enhanced on where it was."

Mr Thornton noted the integration of Burn Stewart into Distell was going well, with the process of combining the commercial operations of both firms set to commence.

Meanwhile, Diageo has launched its third Scotch whisky embassy in the Far East.

The drinks giant's latest Johnnie Walker House has opened in the Cheongdam luxury retail district of Seoul, South Korea.

The six-floor embassy, which has been added to similar ventures in Shanghai and Beijing, will target affluent consumers with a range of luxury whisky experiences.