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.