Distillery Owners Guide: Who Belongs to Whom?
Overview
Since 2000, the Scotch industry has undergone a major consolidation, with multinationals acquiring many of the independents. Here’s a rough guide of who’s who, and who owns what.
Diageo
Diageo is the giant of the industry, owning 27 malt distilleries, and 2 grain distilleries. It built its name as a producer of blended whisky, notably Bells, and now owns Johnnie Walker. Its best-known single malts are Lagavulin, Oban and Talisker.
Other single malt whiskies in its portfolio are Auchroisk, Benrinnes, Blair Athol, Cardhu, Clynelish, Caol lla, Cragganmore, Dailuaine, Dalwhinnie, Dufftown, Glen Elgin, Glen Ord, Glen Spey, Glenkinchie, Glendullan, Glenlossie, Inchgower, Johnny Walker pure malt, Linkwood, Mannochmore, Mortlach, Pittyvaich, Rosebank, Strathmill and Teaninich.
In addition to Bells and Johnny Walker, its blended malt whiskies are Black and White, Haig, J&B Rara, Spey Royal, VAT 69, White Horse, Buchanans, Dimple (sold in the U.S. as Pinch) and Old Parr.
Diageo also owns American whiskies Seagrams 7 Crown and Bulleit Bourbon; and Canadian whiskies Crown Royal and Seagram’s VO.
Pernod Ricard
Pernod Ricard owns Chivas Brothers, making it the second largest Scotch whisky producer in the world, with 10 distilleries, including anchor brands Glenlivet and Aberlour. Rounding out its portfolio are Glendronach, Glenallachie, Glenburgie, Glentauchers, Miltonduff, Scapa, Strathisla and Tormore.
Glendronach is reportedly up for sale to a South African consortium.
Pernod Ricard also owns Irish Distillers, maker of Jameson’s Irish Whiskey as well as lesser-known Irish whiskey brands Powers, Paddy, Redbreast, Middleton and Green Spot.
It is also a major producer of blended whisky with Chivas Regal, Ballantines and Canadian Club.
The Edrington Group
The Edrington Group owns five distilleries: Glenrothes, Glenturret, Highland Park, Macallan and Tamdhu.
It also produces The Famous Grouse blended malt whisky and Cutty Sark.
Bacardi
Bacardi owns Dewar’s, giving it control of 5 single malt distilleries: Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, Macduff and Royal Brackla.
Its Dewar’s blended whisky is the best selling brand in the U.S.
Fortune Brands
Fortune Brands is a large multinational with many interests, including tobacco and spirits. It is best known in the U.S. for Jim Beam. Fortune Brands put itself on the single malt map in 1997 with acquisition of Allied Domecq, in partnership with Pernod Ricard, picking up the legendary Laphroaig distillery. It also owns Ardmore.
Other brands in its portfolio include Teachers blended whisky, Canadian Club whisky, and bourbons Makers Mark and Knob Hill.
Thai Beverages
Thai Beverages, Asia’s largest liquor company, took a major stake in the world of whisky in 2001 with the acquisition of Inver House, a leading distiller of single malt Scotch. It owns and operates five distilleries: Old Pulteney Distillery, The Speyburn-Glenlivet Distillery, Balblair Distillery, Knockdhu Distillery and Balmenach Distillery.
It also owns the blended whisky brands MacArthurs, Pinwinnie Royal, Hankey Bannister, Cattos, Inver House, and Green Plaid.
United Breweries Group
India’s United Breweries purchased Whyte & Mackay, Scotland’s fourth largest Scotch maker, in June 2007 for $1.8B. The deal gave it 4 single malt distilleries: Isle of Jura, The Dalmore, Tamnavulin and Fettercairn; and also Whyte & Mackay blended whisky.
Whyte & Mackay has operated under several monikers and owners in the past couple of decades, switching its name to JBB and Kyndal before returning once more to Whyte & Mackay. It was snapped up by Fortune Brands, and later privatized through a management buyout. It was subsequently acquired by UB Group, the world’s third largest spirits company, best known in the U.S. for its Kingfisher Indian beer. UB Group also owns several blended whisky brands: Bagpiper Whisky, McDowell’s No.1 Whisky and Director’s Special Whisky.
CL WorldBrands Limited
Trindad’s CL Worldbrands, owner of Angostura bitters, bought Burn Stewart in 2003, and now owns four distilleries: Bunnahabhain, Deanston, Ledaig and Tobermory. It also produces blends Black Bottle and Scotch Leader.
William Grant
William Grant’s is one of the few remaining family-run whisky companies and owner of the best-selling single malt in the world, Glenfiddich. It also owns single malt The Balvenie, and blends Grants and Clan MacGregor.
J & A Mitchell Co.
J & Mitchell Co. is one of the last remaining family-owned whisky producers in Scotland. It has owned and operated the Springbank distillery since 1828, and recently acquired and revived the Glengyle distillery. Springbank produces three disinct single malts: Springbank, Longrow and Hazelburn.
Moet Hennesy Louis Vuitton
French luxury goods company LVMH acquired a majority stake in Glenmorangie in 2004 in a joint venture with minority owner Diageo, giving it control of the biggest selling malt in the U.K. It also owns Glen Moray and Ardbeg.
Tullibardine Distilleries Ltd.
Tuillibardine is an independent. It is a relatively recent arrival, having launched in 1946, sold to Whyte & Mackay in 1995 and then bought out by a group of private investors. It is rumored to be on the block again, although the company denies it. It produces one brand, Tuillibardine single malt.
Suntory
Japanese conglomerate Suntory owns Morrison Bowmore Distillers. The three main distilleries include Bowmore, Auchentoshan, (reviewed in the 1st scotchtalk entry) and Glen Garioch.
Asahi
Nikka, a Japanese whisky distiller and subsidiary of Japanese brewer Asahi, purchased Ben Nevis in 1989 and revived the moribund distilling facilities in 1991.
Takara Shuzo Company
Tomatin is owned by Japanese company Takara Shuzo. Their brands are Tomatin, Antiquary and Talisman.
[…] Herald: SCOTCH WHISKY drinkers could face another hike in the cost of their favourite tipple as Diageo reviews for the second time this year the domestic pricing structure of brands including Johnnie […]
Diageo Considers Price Hikes to Offset Sharp Rise in Commodities Costs « just another whisky blog said this on August 24, 2008 at 4:26 am |
[…] Auchentoshan was acquired in 1984 by Morrison Bowmore, and is now controlled by Suntory from Japan. […]
Auchentoshan Distillery Notes « just another whisky blog said this on August 26, 2008 at 4:48 am |
[…] Bullish In Advance of Earnings Thursday, But Whispers of Price Hikes Diageo, maker of Johnny Walker, is expected to meet analyst estimates when it announces full-year earnings […]
Diageo Bullish In Advance of Earnings Thursday, But Whispers of Price Hikes « just another whisky blog said this on August 28, 2008 at 3:19 am |
[…] is the private distillery of Dewar’s, a division of Bacardi. It is located in the center of Scotland, about 5 miles east of Loch Tay and the town of Kenmore […]
Aberfeldy Distillery Notes « just another whisky blog said this on August 28, 2008 at 6:53 am |
[…] Meets Expectations, Cuts Forecast Diageo hit the high end of range, reporting 60.6 pence earnings per share, but lowered its 2009 forecast […]
Diageo Meets Expectations, Cuts Forecast « just another whisky blog said this on August 28, 2008 at 10:29 pm |
[…] Chivas on Thursday said it had agreed to sell its Glendronach distillery to BenRaich in order to concentrate on its other whisky brands, including The Glenlivet, the BBC reports. […]
Chivas Sells Glendronach to Indy BenRaich « just another whisky blog said this on August 28, 2008 at 11:11 pm |
[…] it was mothballed by former owner Edrington Group, the distillery produced a Glenglassaugh 12 year old and a highly-regarded 1973 “Family […]
Glenglassaugh, Closed in 1986, To Reopen with Russian Investors « just another whisky blog said this on August 30, 2008 at 4:28 am |
[…] is bringing it back, with new bottlings planned for 2009. The place was previously owned by Edrington Group, and used to supply whisky for Cutty Sark and other […]
Touring Newly-Revived Glenglassaugh « just another whisky blog said this on August 30, 2008 at 4:29 am |
[…] will probably raise a new howl of protest from some who see the SWA as a tool of giant multinationals like Diageo hellbent on keeping new small competitors out of the market at all costs, including its own […]
French ‘Scotch’? Mais Non « just another whisky blog said this on September 10, 2008 at 5:21 am |
[…] Want to Revive Rosebank, But the Plans Face Hurdles Diageo mothballed the old Rosebank distillery in Falkirk to focus its attentions on Glenkinichie. It is […]
Investors Want to Revive Rosebank, But the Plans Face Hurdles « just another whisky blog said this on September 14, 2008 at 1:14 am |
[…] Want to Revive Rosebank, But Plan Faces Hurdles Diageo mothballed the old Rosebank distillery in Falkirk in 1993 to focus its attentions on Glenkinichie. […]
Investors Want to Revive Rosebank, But Plan Faces Hurdles « just another whisky blog said this on September 14, 2008 at 3:37 am |
[…] Ricard Reports Record Scotch Sales, Including The Glenlivet Pernod Ricard stock slid nearly 10 percent yesterday on reports of a lackluster showing for liquor consumption […]
Pernod Ricard Reports Record Scotch Sales, Including The Glenlivet « just another whisky blog said this on September 19, 2008 at 4:36 am |
[…] a Reversal, Whyte & MacKay Posts Profit From the Edinburgh Evening News: WHYTE & Mackay has returned to growth in its first full year since being bought by Indian billionaire Vijay […]
In a Reversal, Whyte & MacKay Posts Profit « Scotchtalk said this on September 25, 2008 at 5:50 am |
[…] to Launch New Single Malt, The Singleton of Duffton Diageo is aiming at new whisky drinkers with a new release, The Singleton of Duffton. The 12-year-old […]
Diageo to Launch New Single Malt, The Singleton of Duffton « Scotchtalk said this on October 9, 2008 at 8:35 pm |
[…] Original, Ardbeg Take Top Marks in ‘Whisky Bible 2008′ LVMH-owned Glenmorangie has taken lots of chances lately, tinkering with its brand and recipes to great effect […]
Glenmorangie Original, Ardbeg Take Top Marks in ‘Whisky Bible 2008′ « Scotchtalk said this on October 10, 2008 at 3:09 am |