Ballantine's

In 1827, George Ballantine founded Food in Edinburgh. Its products contained a wide range of whiskey and hard alcohol. George set up a new store in Glasgow in 1865, which he considered a more profitable area, while entrusting his son Archibald with the operation of Edinburgh. At this time, George Ballantine began to create his own blends.

The sale was favorable and Ballantine hired a second son, George Jr. - and so George Ballantine and Son Ltd. was formed. They started exporting their products and the trade was extremely successful. The business remained under the watchful eye of George Jr. until 1919, when Barclay and McKinlay bought the business. It is from this point on that Ballantine really promotes itself as a viable brand.

In 1937, they became the majority shareholder of Hiram Walker Gooderham & Worts and then bought the Glenburgie and Miltonduff distilleries to provide a main supply of whiskey for their newly purchased blend brand. The company also built a large distillery in Dumbarton. The Ballantines brand continued to prosper and in 1986 became the largest blend whiskey brand in Europe. It is the entry level of the Ballantines, "FINEST" mix, which accounts for 89% of their worldwide sales of 5.3 million boxes per year.