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Strathclyde Business Park, Phoenix Cres, Bellshill ML4 3AN, United Kingdom
Countryscotland
Regionhighlands
Established1887
OwnerGlenn Gordon
TypeScotch whisky and other selected spirits
Number of stillsn/a
Visitor centerYes
StatusActive
Phone+441698843843

About
William Grant and Sons Distillery

William Grant & Sons Ltd is an independent, family-owned Scottish company specializing in the distillation of Scotch whisky and other selected spirits. Established in 1887 by William Grant, the company remains under the control of Grant's descendants as of 2018. It is the largest family-owned Scotch whisky distiller, holding a significant place in the industry.

Overview

William Grant & Sons is the third-largest producer of Scotch whisky, capturing an 8% market share with an annual shipment of about 7.6 million cases. The company’s well-known brands include Glenfiddich and Balvenie. It is registered at The Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown, while its main operational headquarters are located at Strathclyde Business Park, North Lanarkshire, and its sales and marketing headquarters are in Richmond, London. The company is a member of the Scotch Whisky Association.

The current master blender is Brian Kinsman, who succeeded David Stewart, the longest-serving master blender with one distiller in the industry, holding the position for 47 years.

William Grant & Sons has received the Queen's Award to Industry for Outstanding Export Achievement.

History

William Grant was born in Dufftown in 1839. In 1886, he, along with his six sons, began constructing the Glenfiddich distillery, which became operational on Christmas Day, 1887. In 1892, the company built a second distillery named Balvenie.

The Girvan grain whisky distillery was established in South Ayrshire in 1963. The Kininvie distillery followed in 1990. In 1992, the company acquired the Convalmore distillery to expand warehousing capacity for Glenfiddich.

In 1999, William Grant & Sons launched Hendrick's Gin and acquired Highland Distillers in partnership with the Edrington Group, forming the 1887 Company. The company also acquired the Canadian whisky brand Gibson's Finest in 2002 and established a vodka distillery in Borgarnes, Iceland in 2005, producing the Reyka brand.

In 2005, William Grant & Sons expanded into the brandy market by acquiring Raynal & Cie, which included brands such as Three Barrels and The Raynal. The Ailsa Bay distillery was built in 2009 to support the production of malt whisky for blended whiskies.

In 2010, the company acquired Tullamore D.E.W. from C&C Group and later sold other acquired brands like Irish Mist, Carolans, and Frangelico to Gruppo Campari. In 2014, William Grant & Sons purchased Drambuie liqueur.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the company shifted production at three distilleries to produce approximately five million liters of ethanol for hand sanitiser. Visitor centers were temporarily closed and later reopened with increased hygiene measures.

In 2020, the company launched its first bourbon, Fistful of Bourbon, in the American market. In 2022, William Grant & Sons introduced its first low-alcoholic spirits brand, Atopia. In 2023, the company acquired Silent Pool Distillers, a gin producer headquartered in Guildford.

Distilleries

William Grant & Sons owns and operates several distilleries:

  • Ailsa Bay Distillery
  • Balvenie Distillery
  • Convalmore Distillery (used for warehousing)
  • Girvan Grain Distillery
  • Glenfiddich Distillery
  • Kininvie Distillery
  • Tullamore Distillery (Ireland)

Brands

William Grant & Sons offers a wide range of beverage brands, including:

Scotch Whisky:

  • Single Malt: Aerstone, Ailsa Bay, Glenfiddich, Kininvie, The Balvenie
  • Blended Malt: Monkey Shoulder
  • Blended Scotch: Grant's, House of Hazelwood, Clan MacGregor, Wildmoor

Other Spirits:

  • American Whiskey: Fistful of Bourbon, Hudson Whiskey
  • Canadian Whisky: Gibson's Finest
  • Irish Whiskey: Tullamore D.E.W.
  • Brandy: Three Barrels, The Raynal
  • Gin: Hendrick's, Verano
  • Liqueur: Drambuie, Solerno, The Knot
  • Low-Alcoholic Spirit: Atopia
  • Mixed Drinks: Taboo
  • Rum: Sailor Jerry, Old Vatted Demerara (O.V.D.), Woods Old Navy
  • Tequila: Milagro
  • Vodka: Reyka

Rare Whiskies

William Grant & Sons also produces several rare whiskies, such as:

  • Girvan First Batch Distillation (from casks filled in 1964)
  • Ladyburn (from Ladyburn distillery, closed in 1975)
  • Snow Phoenix (a blend from Glenfiddich, produced after a warehouse collapse)

Other rare whiskies have been bottled as private vintages for notable events and entities, such as Concorde and the Royal Danish Wedding.

Highland Distillers Brands

In 1999, William Grant & Sons and the Edrington Group took Highland Distillers private, forming the 1887 Company. Brands owned by Highland Distillers at the time included Black Bottle, Gloag's London Dry Gin, Highland Park, The Famous Grouse, and The Macallan.

Industry Impact

William Grant & Sons continues to play a pivotal role in the Scotch whisky industry, maintaining its legacy through innovative products and strategic acquisitions, while staying true to its family-owned roots.

News from
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Bottles from William Grant and Sons Distillery

About Glenbotal

The idea of Glenbotal came to us naturaly: as whisky lovers, we were always on the lookout for new experiences in the whisky world. That’s why we created Glenbotal and became our very own first customers. We buy unique and hard to find spirits from auctions, ballots, and private collections. Then, we share them with a small circle of friends and people who can appreciate a good dram.

Every time we'll add new rare spirit to our website, we'll update you in the email