ADVERTISEMENT

Last Updated:
2024-09-22 08:21:10

William Grant & Sons

Scottish family-owned distillery
Scottish family-owned distillery

William Grant & Sons, founded in 1887, is a leading Scotch whisky distiller. With brands like Glenfiddich and Balvenie, it holds 8% market share and is the largest family-owned distiller.

Community for Timeline Editors
Place where unique editors like you interact
1817
Discharge of William Grant from the First Battalion Ninety-Second Regiment of Foot

William Grant, father of the founder of William Grant & Sons, was discharged from the First Battalion Ninety-Second Regiment of Foot after serving in the Napoleonic Wars. He then walked 320 miles to Dufftown.

1839-12-19
Birth of William Grant in Dufftown

William Grant was born in the family home on 52 Conval Street in Dufftown, Scotland. His father, also named William Grant, had served in the Napoleonic Wars and was known as 'Old Waterloo' after being discharged.

1859
William Grant's Journey to Balmoral

In 1859, William Grant walked 120 miles to Balmoral to study outcrops with the intention of purchasing them, showcasing his early aspirations of independence and entrepreneurship.

1886
Construction of Glenfiddich distillery begins

In 1886, William Grant and his six sons initiated the construction of Glenfiddich distillery.

1887-12-25
Founding of Glenfiddich Distillery

In 1887, William Grant founded the Glenfiddich Distillery in the Scottish Highlands, utilizing the pure Robbie Dhu spring water and special microclimate of the Glen of Fiddich to create a unique malt whisky. The distillery produced a bright and bold whisky that became known as the 'best dram in the valley'.

1892
Establishment of Balvenie Distillery

In 1892, William Grant & Sons built the Balvenie distillery, a neighboring distillery to Glenfiddich.

1893
Conversion of Balvenie Castle into a Distillery

In 1893, William Grant purchased Balvenie Castle and converted it into a distillery, producing unique whiskey. The Balvenie brand became known for having its own malting plant and growing its own barley.

1898-09
Grant's Stand Fast Blend Creation

In 1898, three months prior to the Patterson crash, William Grant and his sons transitioned from distillers to blenders, creating the Grant's Stand Fast blend which evolved into Grant's Blended Whisky, now one of the top three blended Scotch whiskies globally.

1903
Establishment of Glasgow Branch Office

In 1903, William Grant began blending whiskies and established a Glasgow branch office and blending operation.

1904
Grant establishes first export office in Blackburn, England

In 1904, William Grant & Sons established its first export office in Blackburn, Lancashire, England, as part of its expansion into wholesale, blending, and distribution operations.

1905
Grant begins exporting to Canada

In 1905, William Grant & Sons started exporting to Canada after discovering a distant relative who was the country's High Commissioner, expanding its international presence.

1909
Far East Sales Tour by Charles Gordon

In 1909, William Grant's son-in-law Charles Gordon embarked on a successful year-long sales tour in the Far East, expanding the company's market presence.

1914
Expansion to 30 Countries

By 1914, William Grant & Sons had established over 60 sales offices and expanded their exports to 30 countries worldwide.

1915
Immature Spirits Act

The passage of the Immature Spirits Act in 1915 posed a challenge to William Grant & Sons by prohibiting the sales of whisky aged less than two years.

1919
Re-start of distilling after war

In 1919, after the war, William Grant & Sons re-started distilling operations, overcoming the challenges faced during the wartime.

1923
Death of William Grant

William Grant, the founder of Glenfiddich distillery, passed away in 1923 at the age of 83. He passed on the craft of distilling Glenfiddich to his sons, which has been maintained and passed down through 6 generations of family ownership.

1927
Opening of London Office

In 1927, William Grant & Sons expanded by opening a London office and restoring its Scandinavian export markets.

1933
Repeal of Prohibition in the US

The repeal of Prohibition in the United States in 1933 boosted demand for whisky, with Glenfiddich establishing itself as a top-selling Scotch whisky.

1957
Introduction of Grant's Triangular Bottle

In 1957, Grant's introduced its iconic triangular bottle, designed by Hans Schleger, to protect and reinforce its independence.

1963
Establishment of Girvan Grain Distillery

In 1963, Grant's created its own grain distillery at Girvan to further solidify its independence.

1964
Marketing of Glenfiddich Single Malt

In 1964, Grant's made efforts to market Glenfiddich single malt in England and abroad, leading to its global best-selling position.

1969
Opening of the First Distillery Visitor Centre in Scotland at Glenfiddich

In 1969, the company opened the first distillery visitor centre in Scotland at Glenfiddich, providing a unique experience for whisky enthusiasts to learn about the distillation process and history of the brand.

1974
Queen's Award to William Grant & Sons

In 1974, William Grant & Sons won the Queen's Award to Industry for Outstanding Export Achievement, a prestigious recognition for the company.

1975
Ladyburn Distillery Closure

Ladyburn distillery, where Ladyburn whisky was produced, closed in 1975.

1990
Foundation of Kininvie Distillery

William Grant & Sons founded the Kininvie distillery in 1990.

1992
Acquisition of Convalmore Distillery

In 1992, William Grant & Sons purchased the Convalmore distillery to expand warehousing capacity for Glenfiddich.

1998
Acquisition of 30 percent stake in rival Highland Distillers

In 1998, William Grant & Sons acquired a 30 percent stake in rival Highland Distillers in a partnership with the Edrington Group, marking a strategic move for external growth.

1999
Merger of William Grant & Sons and The Edrington Group

In 1999, William Grant & Sons combined with The Edrington Group to acquire Highland Distilleries, which owned The Macallan, Highland Park malts, and The Famous Grouse. This merger led to the creation of the 1887 Company, with Grants holding a 30% stake.

2000
Appointment of Patrick Thomas as CEO

In 2000, Patrick Thomas, a French executive, was appointed as the CEO of William Grant & Sons Ltd. This marked the first time a non-family member led the company.

2002-10
Purchase of Gibson's Finest

In October 2002, William Grant & Sons acquired the Canadian whisky brand Gibson's Finest.

2003
Grant Gordon family takes back managerial control of William Grant & Sons

In 2003, the Grant Gordon family decided to take back managerial control of William Grant & Sons, leading to the resignation of CEO Patrick Thomas. The newly appointed chairman, Charles Gordon, expressed the family's intention to transition the business into a fully professional organization while maintaining its tradition as a family company.

2005-10
Acquisition of Raynal & Cie and Brandy Brands

In October 2005, the company purchased Raynal & Cie and obtained the brandy brands Three Barrels and The Raynal.

2007
Construction of Ailsa Bay malt distillery

In 2007, due to the increasing demand for malt for blending, a decision was made to construct the Ailsa Bay malt distillery at Girvan. This expansion was a strategic move to meet the company's supply requirements.

2008
Purchase of Sailor Jerry Rum

In 2008, William Grant & Sons expanded their portfolio by acquiring Sailor Jerry rum, adding to their diverse range of spirits.

2009
Establishment of Ailsa Bay Distillery

In 2009, Ailsa Bay distillery was constructed to fulfill the demand for malt whisky used in blended whiskies.

2010-05
Acquisition of Tullamore D.E.W. Brand

In May 2010, the group acquired four brands from C&C Group, including Tullamore D.E.W., for €300m. They later sold three minor brands to Gruppo Campari, effectively paying €171m for the Tullamore D.E.W. brand.

2016-10
Continuation of Family Ownership

Glenfiddich and The Balvenie, among the few distilleries in Scotland still owned and run independently by their founding family, continue the tradition of family ownership. This tradition has been maintained for 6 generations since William Grant passed on the craft to his sons.

2017
Grant's Becomes Third Best-Selling Scotch Whisky

In 2017, Grant's, the company's leading blended whisky, claimed the third spot in the world's best-selling Scotch whiskies, following Johnnie Walker and Ballantine’s.

2018
Continuation of Family Ownership of William Grant & Sons Ltd

As of 2018, William Grant & Sons Ltd is still run by the descendants of William Grant. The company has maintained its independence and family ownership for over a century.

2020-03
Production of Hand Sanitiser

In March 2020, the company switched production at three distilleries to create ethanol for hand sanitiser during the Covid-19 pandemic.

2020-06
Reopening of Visitor Centres

In June 2020, the company reopened some visitor centres with increased hygiene measures.

2020-09
Launch of Fistful of Bourbon

In September 2020, Fistful of Bourbon, the company's first bourbon, was launched in the American market.

2021
William Grant & Sons Founded

William Grant & Sons is an independent, family-owned drinks business. It is best known for producing the world's leading single malt whisky, Glenfiddich.

2022-02
Launch of Atopia

In February 2022, William Grant & Sons launched its first low-alcoholic spirits, Atopia.

2023-09
Acquisition of Silent Pool Distillers

In September 2023, William Grant & Sons acquired the Guildford-headquartered gin producer, Silent Pool Distillers.

2024-04-15
William Grant & Sons Ltd. Encyclopedia Entry

An entry about William Grant & Sons Ltd. in the International Directory of Company Histories on Encyclopedia.com dated April 15, 2024.

End of the Timeline
William Grant & Sons
Become an Editor of Timeline Wiki
Become an Editor of
Timeline Wiki
USD $0 for creating and editing infinite number of timelines after sign up.