Ian Macleod Distillers
| Industry | Drink industry |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1933 |
| Founder | Leonard Russell |
| Headquarters | Broxburn, Scotland, UK |
| Website | www |
Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd. is an independent, family-owned business which produces Scotch whisky and other spirits, based in Broxburn, Scotland. It was founded by Leonard Russell, Snr. in 1933.[1] They own three single malt whisky distilleries: Glengoyne distillery, Tamdhu distillery, and Rosebank distillery and one gin distillery: Edinburgh Gin. They also produce a number of other distilled spirits including Smokehead Islay whisky.
The company is a member of the Scotch Whisky Association.[2]
History
Ian Macleod traces its roots to the whisky brokerage founded in October 1933 by Leonard Russell, Snr.[3] The Russell Brokers firm acquired Ian MacLeod & Co., Ltd. in March 1963 followed in May 1963 by the purchase of Isle of Skye Blended Whisky.[4] In March 1968 the King Robert II line of spirits was acquired.[5]
In May 1981 Ian Macleod, in conjunction with J & G Grant, opened Broxburn Bottlers, Ltd.[6]
In September 1990, Ian Macleod acquired London Hill Gin, a brand that dates back to 1785. In May 1996 Watson's Rums were brought on board and in September 1998 Hedges & Butler Blended Scotch and Wincarnis Tonic Wines were added to the portfolio.[5]
The company officially became Ian MacLeod Distillers with the acquisition of the Glengoyne Distillery in April 2003.[7] Glengoyne along with Langs Blended Whisky were purchased from Highland Distillers.[8] In January 2006 Smokehead Islay Whisky was introduced by the company.[4]
In June 2011, Ian Macleod added another mothballed distillery from Highland Distillers Tamdhu distillery.[9] The brand was re-launched in May 2013 at the Speyside Whisky Festival.[10] In September 2016 Spencerfield Spirits was acquired, bringing Edinburgh Gin, Pig's Nose, Sheep Dip and The Feathery Scotch Whiskies into the fold.[11]
In October 2017, Ian MacLeod bought the trademark for Rosebank distillery from Diageo and the distillery site from Scottish Canals with the intention of reopening the distillery.[12] In July 2023 production restarted at Rosebank Distillery.[13]
On 6 December 2024, Edinburgh Gin opened a new distillery and visitor centre in the Old Town area of Edinburgh.[14]
Distilleries
- Edinburgh Gin (founded 2010)[15]
- Glengoyne distillery (founded 1833)[16]
- Tamdhu distillery (founded 1896)[9]
- Rosebank distillery (founded 1840)[17]
- Laggan Bay distillery (under construction)[18]
Brands
Core brands
- Glengoyne Highland single malt Scotch whisky
- Rosebank Lowland single malt Scotch whisky
- Tamdhu Speyside single malt Scotch whisky
- Smokehead Islay single malt Scotch whisky[19]
- Shieldaig single malt Scotch whisky
- Laggan Bay distillery
- King Robert II blended Scotch whisky
- Isle of Skye blended Scotch whisky
- Sheep Dip blended malt Scotch whisky
- Pig's Nose blended Scotch whisky
- Mash cut blended malt Scotch whisky
- Barrowman's
- Edinburgh Gin
- London Hill Gin
- Raffles Gin
Other brands
- 'As We Get It' Whisky
- Blackshield
- Dunfife Whisky
- Glenshire Whisky
- Major Gunn's Whisky
- Malborough Gin
- Marshal Whisky
- Maxwell Whisky
- Queen's Seal Whisky
- Rostov Vodka
- Scottish Stag Whisky
References
- ^ "The spirits redolent of a past age Old fashioned is way ahead at Peter Russell". The Herald. 25 November 2002.
- ^ "SWA member directory". Scotch Whisky Association.
- ^ Gabanyi, Stefan (1996). Whisk(e)y. Abbeville Press Publishers. p. 289.
- ^ a b "Ian Macleod Distillers | Scotch Whisky".
- ^ a b "Ian Macleod Distillers".
- ^ "Broxburn Bottlers Limited".
- ^ "Glengoyne – Scotch malt whisky distillery profile".
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ "Lang Brothers | Scotch Whisky".
- ^ a b Jackson, Michael (2015). The Complete Guide to Single Malt Scotch. Dorling Kidersley Limitied. p. 333.
- ^ "Top 10 spirit launches in May". 10 June 2013.
- ^ "Ian Macleod Distillers purchases Edinburgh Gin". 13 September 2016.
- ^ "Ian Macleod Distillers announce they are set to revive one of Scotland's most famous 'lost' lowland distilleries". 10 October 2017.
- ^ Collins, Georgie (19 July 2023). "Production restarts at Rosebank Distillery". The Spirits Business. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
- ^ "Edinburgh Gin opens new city centre distillery". 6 December 2024.
- ^ "Ian Macleod Distillers buys Edinburgh Gin company". BBC News. 13 September 2016.
- ^ Gabanyi, Stefan (1996). Whisk(e)y. Abbeville Press Publishers. p. 131.
- ^ Murray, Jim (2015). Jim Murray's Whiskey Bible 2016. Whitman Publishing LLC. p. 187.
- ^ "Laggan Bay distillery on Islay on track for 2025 completion". Project Construction. Retrieved 7 January 2026.
- ^ Morton, Andy (15 May 2018). "Ian Macleod targets five-fold Smokehead increase | Beverage Industry News | just-drinks". just-drinks.com. Archived from the original on 1 December 2020.