William Grant & Sons
Place in the hierarchy
The company in brief
An independent Scottish family-owned company, owner of Glenfiddich — the world's best-selling single malt. Portfolio: blended and blended malt — Grant's, Monkey Shoulder (the Dufftown trio: Glenfiddich + Balvenie + Kininvie), The Famous Grouse (acquired from Edrington in 2025), Naked Malt, Clan MacGregor; and single malts: Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Ailsa Bay.
Timeline
- 1887 William Grant founded William Grant & Sons and began building the Glenfiddich distillery.
- 1887 Glenfiddich Distillery produced its first spirit on Christmas Day.
- 1892 The company built its second distillery, Balvenie, next to Glenfiddich.
- 1898 William Grant & Sons launched its blended whisky brand, Grant's Stand Fast.
- 1909 Charles Gordon, William Grant's son-in-law, began exporting whisky to Canada and the United States.
- 1963 Glenfiddich became the first Scottish distillery to actively promote single malt outside Scotland.
- 1999 The company launched Hendrick's Gin, which quickly gained international recognition.
- 2010 William Grant & Sons acquired the Irish whiskey brand Tullamore D.E.W.
