Whyte & MacKay
Whisky Concerns
WHYTE & MACKAY DISTILLERS
United Spirits part of the Indian U.B. Group and owner of Whyte & Mackay has sold
The reason the high interest which they have to pay for the $ 600 million in 2007 to buy W & M
A company within the U B Group sold 10.2 % shares from United Spirits.United Spirits had already paid back $ 110 million and can now pay another $180 million back
There was a rumour that Diageo should buy a stake in United Spirits from Vijay Mallya, owner of United Spirits is said that he woold sell a minority stake of 49 %, and later it wasd said that he would sell Whyte & Mackay
October
W & M announces restructuring of their operations: no plant is closed but 100 out of a workforce of 560 in Scotland will be redundant
November 2009
United Spirits is to sell new shares worth 190.000.000 - 220.000.000 Pounds to institutions to help reduce its debt pile of almost 890.000.000 Pounds
A large part of the debt was incurred in United Spirit's 595.000.000 Pounds acquisition of Whyte & Mackay Distillers in 2007
Vijay Mallya, would sell a stake in United Spirits to private - equity firms or Diageo of 15 %
It is said that at Whyte & Mackay Distillers, with the grain distillery Invergordon and the malt distilleries (Old) Fettercairn, Dalmore, Jura and Tamnavulin, about 90 jobs were under
treath in Scotland and 15 in other countries
Capacity:
Dalmore: 4.200.000 litres
(Old) Fettercairn :2.300.000 litres
Jura:2.200.000 litres
Tamnavulin: 4.000.000 litresy
South African tycoon Vivian Imerman is expected to return to Scotland's whisky sector if Diageo agrees to sell Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay.
Imerman, a former chief executive of Whyte & Mackay, is considering an offer to buy back the business he sold six years ago if Diageo is forced to offload it to allay competition concerns. It would be an "important addition" to his current collection of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia.
Known as "the man from Del Monte" from his time as chief executive of that business, Imerman and his former brother-in-law, Robert Tchenguiz, led a group of investors who acquired Whyte & Mackay in 2001 in a £200 million deal.
In 2007, they sold the business to Vijay Mallya's United Spirits for £595m. That deal reportedly netted Imerman £396m.
It included a restraint clause that has since expired which barred Imerman from buying back the business for five years.
"I have done as much as I can do with the company and I have maximised income," he said at the time of the sale. "The company either needed to be bought or buy a brand to sell into emerging markets."
Diageo acquired Whyte & Mackay when it bought United Spirits last year as part of a wider-ranging bid to boost its presence in emerging markets.
The world's largest distiller said earlier this week that it would sell most of Whyte & Mackay to alleviate concerns from the Office of Fair trading that the acquisition could lead to higher prices for blended whisky in the UK. As Whyte & Mackay is a major supplier of own-label blended whisky to supermarkets and other retailers, its products compete heavily with Bell's and other Diageo brands.
Diageo has said it is willing to sell Whyte & Mackay's grain distilleries, but would prefer to keep the company's Dalmore and Tamnavulin malt brands. The OFT is considering this proposal and has suspended referring the case to the Competition Commission.
Imerman set up private investment group Vasari in 2008 and has served as its chairman since then. It is focused on "opportunities in emerging and frontier markets in consumer packaged goods".
In a statement issued yesterday by Vasari, Imerman confirmed he was interested in buying back the brand.
"Whyte & Mackay would make an important addition to the portfolio of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia where Mr Imerman has been concentrating his efforts through his company Vasari since his five-year restraint expired last year," the statement said.
"The W&M brand would be complementary to the strategy of acquiring and growing businesses in these regions to take advantage of rapid consumer growth."
Because the brand is not very strong, analysts say Whyte & Mackay is unlikely to fetch as high a premium as other spirits sales. Phil Carrol of Shore Capital reckons the price falls somewhere between the £200m paid for the business in 2001 and the £595m Imerman sold it for six years later.
"I would be surprised if they got to that top end, plus they won't be buying all of the business if the malts are taken out of the equation," Carrol said.
January, 2014
It's business as usual then at Whyte & Mackay - that is the Glasgow-based spirits producer is once more up for sale. Incredibly this is the 10th time since the beginning of the '70s and in those 40-plus years there have been no fewer than 18 MDs or CEOs come and go, and heaven only knows how many different marketing departments.
This time around the cause is Diageo's acquisition of a majority share in United Spirits - the Indian company which acquired Whyte & Mackay for a tad under £600 million back in 2007. Clearly anxious to avoid the scrutiny of the Office of Fair Trading, Diageo has made a pre-emptive strike with the announcement that it is to sell Whyte & Mackay but not lock, stock and smoking barrels - because apparently the world's number one multinational wants to keep the malt distilleries Dalmore (pictured) and Tamnavulin, but is OK with W&M's other distilleries - Old Fettercairn and Jura - going under the hammer.
As Diageo already boasts some 28 distilleries in its arsenal this decision has raised eyebrows in some quarters. "What on earth does it want Tamnavulin for? All its distilleries are expandable and it is pouring colossal amounts of investment into new distilleries like Roseisle," said one industry observer. "They must be a bargaining tool."
Both are good points. Tamnavulin is not a notable single malt and should the 'competition authorities' still chafe at Diageo's share of the Scotch whisky market creeping towards 40%, the drinks giant can offer up both Tamnavulin and Dalmore - which, as a singular spirit, has attracted a wide following among the single malt cognoscenti.
Of course Diageo's announcement has ushered forth a frenzy of speculation as to who will be the 11th owner of Whyte & Mackay. And there have been one or two comings and goings at the top which have added to the potpourri. Chief executive at the time of Diageo's bid for United Spirits, John Beard, has departed. His replacement, Bryan Donaghey, was previously managing director of Diageo Scotland until earlier this year when he moved to the role of Europe supply director, and finally to supply strategy director up until his decision to leave and almost in the same week he took up the reins at Whyte & Mackay.
Whyte & Mackay has offered no explanation for Beard's going and Diageo is tight-lipped over Donaghey, issuing a terse statement: "Bryan has severed his employment with Diageo and it is not appropriate for us to comment any further, but we wish him the very best for the future." The company did add that 'Bryan had served Diageo with 'distinction'. Clearly, though, 'Bryan' relishes the challenge as one would be forgiven for thinking he'd jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Just one more thing on Beard though. He came from the fused UK distribution arm of Bacardi and Brown-Forman, so perhaps it is no surprise that both Brown-Forman and Bacardi have been mentioned as possible Whyte & Mackay suitors, as has as has Greenall's owner Quintessential Brands, and there is speculation that there is growing interest among companies in China. How long is a piece of string?
April 2014
US drinks giant Brown-Forman is understood to be one of several parties considering second-round bids for the Whyte & Mackay whisky business, expected to fetch around £350 million.
The bulk of Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay is being sold by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya's United Spirits to satisfy competition concerns arising from Diageo's purchase of a controlling stake in the Indian drinks firm.
There are thought to be five parties interested in acquiring the business, including SPI Group, owner of Stolichnaya vodka, Italy's Campari and private equity firms Lion Capital and TPG Capital Management were among the interested parties. Other media have reported that KKR was also bidding. Second-round bids are due on 17 April.
Brown-Forman came into the spotlight last week after a financial blog reported that the US maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey was eyeing French cognac maker Remy Cointreau.
In addition to Jack Daniel's, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company owns Southern Comfort and Herradura tequila.
Whyte & Mackay's latest financial report and accounts show that pre-tax profits rose 27 per cent to almost £33.6m in the year to end-March 2013 from £26.3m last time. Turn-over increased from £227.2m to £263.4m.
The profit was struck after exceptional charges of £1.9m relating to "onerous" lease provisions, property costs and some business restructuring.
Whyte & Mackay, whose other brands include Isle of Jura, Glayva and Claymore, said the lease provisions related to properties in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are vacant or sub-let at a discount.
An Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation last year said there was "substantial competition" in the retail sector between Bell's whisky, a Diageo label, and Whyte & Mackay's own-label and branded blended whisky.
The OFT concluded that the likely loss of competition could give rise to higher prices for retailers and consumers.
United Spirits, the Indian drinks group, has sold its Whyte & Mackay whisky business to Philippines-based rival Emperador in a deal that values the distiller at £430 million.
The Glasgow-based owner of the Fettercairn, Invergordon and Jura distilleries was put up for sale last year to appease competition regulators after Johnnie Walker parent company Diageo built up a stake of almost 28 per cent in United Spirits.
In April, Diageo launched a £1.1 billion bid to take control of United Spirits as it seeks to grow its presence in the world's largest market for whisky.
If successful, the tender offer would see Diageo - which also counts Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin among its stable of brands - owning almost 54.8 per cent of India's largest spirits maker, which was previously controlled by tycoon Vijay Mallya.
Mallya, who remains as the firm's chairman, said today: "I am very proud of what Whyte & Mackay had achieved under United Spirits' ownership.
"Moreover, I am delighted to be able to pass on Whyte & Mackay into the hands of a new owner who is committed to realising the full potential of the business and whose vision for Whyte & Mackay is aligned with that of United Spirits."
EMPERADOR DISTILLERS
The reason the high interest which they have to pay for the $ 600 million in 2007 to buy W & M
A company within the U B Group sold 10.2 % shares from United Spirits.United Spirits had already paid back $ 110 million and can now pay another $180 million back
There was a rumour that Diageo should buy a stake in United Spirits from Vijay Mallya, owner of United Spirits is said that he woold sell a minority stake of 49 %, and later it wasd said that he would sell Whyte & Mackay
October
W & M announces restructuring of their operations: no plant is closed but 100 out of a workforce of 560 in Scotland will be redundant
November 2009
United Spirits is to sell new shares worth 190.000.000 - 220.000.000 Pounds to institutions to help reduce its debt pile of almost 890.000.000 Pounds
A large part of the debt was incurred in United Spirit's 595.000.000 Pounds acquisition of Whyte & Mackay Distillers in 2007
Vijay Mallya, would sell a stake in United Spirits to private - equity firms or Diageo of 15 %
It is said that at Whyte & Mackay Distillers, with the grain distillery Invergordon and the malt distilleries (Old) Fettercairn, Dalmore, Jura and Tamnavulin, about 90 jobs were under
treath in Scotland and 15 in other countries
Capacity:
Dalmore: 4.200.000 litres
(Old) Fettercairn :2.300.000 litres
Jura:2.200.000 litres
Tamnavulin: 4.000.000 litresy
South African tycoon Vivian Imerman is expected to return to Scotland's whisky sector if Diageo agrees to sell Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay.
Imerman, a former chief executive of Whyte & Mackay, is considering an offer to buy back the business he sold six years ago if Diageo is forced to offload it to allay competition concerns. It would be an "important addition" to his current collection of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia.
Known as "the man from Del Monte" from his time as chief executive of that business, Imerman and his former brother-in-law, Robert Tchenguiz, led a group of investors who acquired Whyte & Mackay in 2001 in a £200 million deal.
In 2007, they sold the business to Vijay Mallya's United Spirits for £595m. That deal reportedly netted Imerman £396m.
It included a restraint clause that has since expired which barred Imerman from buying back the business for five years.
"I have done as much as I can do with the company and I have maximised income," he said at the time of the sale. "The company either needed to be bought or buy a brand to sell into emerging markets."
Diageo acquired Whyte & Mackay when it bought United Spirits last year as part of a wider-ranging bid to boost its presence in emerging markets.
The world's largest distiller said earlier this week that it would sell most of Whyte & Mackay to alleviate concerns from the Office of Fair trading that the acquisition could lead to higher prices for blended whisky in the UK. As Whyte & Mackay is a major supplier of own-label blended whisky to supermarkets and other retailers, its products compete heavily with Bell's and other Diageo brands.
Diageo has said it is willing to sell Whyte & Mackay's grain distilleries, but would prefer to keep the company's Dalmore and Tamnavulin malt brands. The OFT is considering this proposal and has suspended referring the case to the Competition Commission.
Imerman set up private investment group Vasari in 2008 and has served as its chairman since then. It is focused on "opportunities in emerging and frontier markets in consumer packaged goods".
In a statement issued yesterday by Vasari, Imerman confirmed he was interested in buying back the brand.
"Whyte & Mackay would make an important addition to the portfolio of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia where Mr Imerman has been concentrating his efforts through his company Vasari since his five-year restraint expired last year," the statement said.
"The W&M brand would be complementary to the strategy of acquiring and growing businesses in these regions to take advantage of rapid consumer growth."
Because the brand is not very strong, analysts say Whyte & Mackay is unlikely to fetch as high a premium as other spirits sales. Phil Carrol of Shore Capital reckons the price falls somewhere between the £200m paid for the business in 2001 and the £595m Imerman sold it for six years later.
"I would be surprised if they got to that top end, plus they won't be buying all of the business if the malts are taken out of the equation," Carrol said.
January, 2014
It's business as usual then at Whyte & Mackay - that is the Glasgow-based spirits producer is once more up for sale. Incredibly this is the 10th time since the beginning of the '70s and in those 40-plus years there have been no fewer than 18 MDs or CEOs come and go, and heaven only knows how many different marketing departments.
This time around the cause is Diageo's acquisition of a majority share in United Spirits - the Indian company which acquired Whyte & Mackay for a tad under £600 million back in 2007. Clearly anxious to avoid the scrutiny of the Office of Fair Trading, Diageo has made a pre-emptive strike with the announcement that it is to sell Whyte & Mackay but not lock, stock and smoking barrels - because apparently the world's number one multinational wants to keep the malt distilleries Dalmore (pictured) and Tamnavulin, but is OK with W&M's other distilleries - Old Fettercairn and Jura - going under the hammer.
As Diageo already boasts some 28 distilleries in its arsenal this decision has raised eyebrows in some quarters. "What on earth does it want Tamnavulin for? All its distilleries are expandable and it is pouring colossal amounts of investment into new distilleries like Roseisle," said one industry observer. "They must be a bargaining tool."
Both are good points. Tamnavulin is not a notable single malt and should the 'competition authorities' still chafe at Diageo's share of the Scotch whisky market creeping towards 40%, the drinks giant can offer up both Tamnavulin and Dalmore - which, as a singular spirit, has attracted a wide following among the single malt cognoscenti.
Of course Diageo's announcement has ushered forth a frenzy of speculation as to who will be the 11th owner of Whyte & Mackay. And there have been one or two comings and goings at the top which have added to the potpourri. Chief executive at the time of Diageo's bid for United Spirits, John Beard, has departed. His replacement, Bryan Donaghey, was previously managing director of Diageo Scotland until earlier this year when he moved to the role of Europe supply director, and finally to supply strategy director up until his decision to leave and almost in the same week he took up the reins at Whyte & Mackay.
Whyte & Mackay has offered no explanation for Beard's going and Diageo is tight-lipped over Donaghey, issuing a terse statement: "Bryan has severed his employment with Diageo and it is not appropriate for us to comment any further, but we wish him the very best for the future." The company did add that 'Bryan had served Diageo with 'distinction'. Clearly, though, 'Bryan' relishes the challenge as one would be forgiven for thinking he'd jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Just one more thing on Beard though. He came from the fused UK distribution arm of Bacardi and Brown-Forman, so perhaps it is no surprise that both Brown-Forman and Bacardi have been mentioned as possible Whyte & Mackay suitors, as has as has Greenall's owner Quintessential Brands, and there is speculation that there is growing interest among companies in China. How long is a piece of string?
April 2014
US drinks giant Brown-Forman is understood to be one of several parties considering second-round bids for the Whyte & Mackay whisky business, expected to fetch around £350 million.
The bulk of Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay is being sold by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya's United Spirits to satisfy competition concerns arising from Diageo's purchase of a controlling stake in the Indian drinks firm.
There are thought to be five parties interested in acquiring the business, including SPI Group, owner of Stolichnaya vodka, Italy's Campari and private equity firms Lion Capital and TPG Capital Management were among the interested parties. Other media have reported that KKR was also bidding. Second-round bids are due on 17 April.
Brown-Forman came into the spotlight last week after a financial blog reported that the US maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey was eyeing French cognac maker Remy Cointreau.
In addition to Jack Daniel's, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company owns Southern Comfort and Herradura tequila.
Whyte & Mackay's latest financial report and accounts show that pre-tax profits rose 27 per cent to almost £33.6m in the year to end-March 2013 from £26.3m last time. Turn-over increased from £227.2m to £263.4m.
The profit was struck after exceptional charges of £1.9m relating to "onerous" lease provisions, property costs and some business restructuring.
Whyte & Mackay, whose other brands include Isle of Jura, Glayva and Claymore, said the lease provisions related to properties in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are vacant or sub-let at a discount.
An Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation last year said there was "substantial competition" in the retail sector between Bell's whisky, a Diageo label, and Whyte & Mackay's own-label and branded blended whisky.
The OFT concluded that the likely loss of competition could give rise to higher prices for retailers and consumers.
United Spirits, the Indian drinks group, has sold its Whyte & Mackay whisky business to Philippines-based rival Emperador in a deal that values the distiller at £430 million.
The Glasgow-based owner of the Fettercairn, Invergordon and Jura distilleries was put up for sale last year to appease competition regulators after Johnnie Walker parent company Diageo built up a stake of almost 28 per cent in United Spirits.
In April, Diageo launched a £1.1 billion bid to take control of United Spirits as it seeks to grow its presence in the world's largest market for whisky.
If successful, the tender offer would see Diageo - which also counts Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin among its stable of brands - owning almost 54.8 per cent of India's largest spirits maker, which was previously controlled by tycoon Vijay Mallya.
Mallya, who remains as the firm's chairman, said today: "I am very proud of what Whyte & Mackay had achieved under United Spirits' ownership.
"Moreover, I am delighted to be able to pass on Whyte & Mackay into the hands of a new owner who is committed to realising the full potential of the business and whose vision for Whyte & Mackay is aligned with that of United Spirits."
EMPERADOR DISTILLERS
Emerador Distilleries is one of three companies within the Alliance Global Group, headed by Dr Andrew Tan, a self-made Chinese Filipino billionaire whose business interests embrace not only drinks but also real estate and fast food.
Emperador is now the world’s best-selling brandy, retailing 400 million bottles in Asia during 2013. The company owns the renowned Bodega San Bruno in Jerez, Spain and vineyards in Toledo. With the acquisition of the Bodega came a significant quantity of brandy that is maturing in ex-Sherry casks.
In Scotland, Emperador owns Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay, which operates Dalmore, Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin malt distilleries, along with Invergordon grain distillery, and produces Whyte & Mackay blended Scotch whiskies and the Glayva liqueur.
Andrew Tan launched Emperador brandy in 1990, at a time when gin and rum were the most popular spirits in the Philippines, and its image is of a vibrant, aspirational drink for younger consumers.
Emperador Light was introduced in 2010, followed three years later by Emperador Deluxe, which helped establish the company as a global player in the premium spirits sector. The same year, Emperador acquired The Bodega San Bruno from González Byass, and the San Bruno brandy trademark, registered in 1942.
November 2014 saw the completion of a £430 million deal between Emperador and United Spirits of India for Whyte & Mackay Distillers, with the sale being forced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority after Diageo bought into United Spirits.
ASSOCIATED COMPANY
Alliance Global Group (Owner)
owners of W & M
Scottish & Universal Investments, Lonrho, Brent Walker, Gallaher, (American Brands, subsequently Fortine Brands0, Jim Beam Brands, a managemenr by out in 2001, and the name
is Kyndal, Vivian Immerman, 2007 Dr Vijay Mallya (United Spirits of India, Diageo sold W & M to Alliance Global Group.
RICHARD PATERSON CHOOSES WHISKY UNDERSTUDY
September 2016
Dalmore owner Whyte & Mackay has appointed Gregg Glass, whisky maker at Compass Box, as blender and whisky maker working under master blender Richard Paterson.
Gregg Glass Compass Box
Gregg Glass: The Compass Box whisky maker will move to Whyte & Mackay in December
Glass, who joined Compass Box Whisky as whisky maker in 2005, will join Whyte & Mackay on 1 December 2016, reporting to Paterson.
Glass is being trained as Paterson‘s successor for when the time comes for him to retire.
However, Whyte & Mackay has made no announcement regarding any plans for Paterson – who celebrated 50 years of working in whisky earlier this month – to step down in the near future.
Glass will be based mainly in Glasgow, but will also travel and provide support to Paterson when needed.
A statement from Whyte & Mackay said: ‘Gregg has gained a wealth of experience within the whisky industry most recently with Compass Box Whisky where he was whisky maker based in London.
‘Richard will be sharing the stories, knowledge and skills that he has learned over the last 50 years with Gregg in order to preserve the legacy of Whyte & Mackay. However, there will be no change to Richard’s role and he has no plans to hand over the reins.
‘Gregg’s appointment is designed to support Richard and allow him to focus his time on the things he loves, including creating new whiskies and promoting Scotch whisky to the world.’
After graduating with a Master of Arts from Glasgow University, Glass achieved his General Certificate in Distilling and is currently working toward an Institute of Brewing and Distilling Diploma.
He also spent time as a seasonal tour guide at Glen Ord distillery while studying at university.
THE WOODSMAN BLEND TO RECRUIT NEW GENERATION
August 2018
New blended Scotch whisky The Woodsman has been launched to appeal to younger consumers usually unattracted to ‘traditional’ Scotch branding.
The Woodsman blended Scotch
Wood-driven: The Woodsman is matured in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-Bourbon casks
The new blend, from Glasgow-based producer Whyte & Mackay, is a no-age-statement blend with a ‘stylish look’ and wood-driven flavour profile.
Matured in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 40% abv, the expression is described as having notes of vanilla, spice and a ‘subtle, smoky sweetness’.
‘The Woodsman is a real category disrupter,’ said Steven Pearson, global marketing director at Whyte & Mackay.
‘Our research showed us there are younger consumers drinking across several categories but avoiding Scotch because they’re put off by traditional category cues.’
Launched this week at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Underbelly, The Woodsman will be available across the UK for around £28 a bottle.
The introduction of The Woodsman follows Whyte & Mackay’s relaunch of Fettercairn single malt last week, and Jura earlier this year.
Most of the casks come from Gonzales Byass and Apostoles and Matusalem casks which held 30 year old sherry. W & M also uses ex Amoroso style casks, which is 75 % Fino and 25 %
P X and stored in Spain for over a year. The Amoroso style sherry is 8 and 15 year old and the toasting is 3-, 4- and 5 mm, part European and American casks.
Whyte and Mackay operates Dalmore distillery at Alness in Ross-shire, Fettercairn in Kincardineshire, Tamnavulin in the heart of Speyside, and Jura on the eponymous Hebridean island, along with Invergordon grain distillery, close to Dalmore. The company produces Whyte & Mackay blended Scotch whisky and a range of aged blends, plus Vladivar vodka and the Glayva liqueur.
While the output of Fettercairn and Tamnavulin distilleries is largely destined for blending, both Jura and Dalmore have been developed as relatively high-profile single malt brands, with Dalmore even challenging Macallan for record-breaking prices in relation to very limited, aged expressions. Whyte & Mackay has its headquarters in St Vincent Street, Glasgow.
The company traces its origins back to 1844, and the establishment of Allan & Poynter in Glasgow, a business managed by James Whyte prior to the formation of his partnership in 1882 with Charles Mackay. The pair traded as whisky merchants and bonded warehousemen, and launched their own blended Scotch under the name Whyte & Mackay Special.
The company remained in private hands until 1972, when it was acquired by Sir Hugh Fraser’s Scottish and Universal Investments, in turn taken over by Lonrho Ltd in 1981. In 1960 Whyte & Mackay had merged with the Mackenzie Bros, owners of Dalmore, giving the company its first distillery.
In 1973 Fettercairn was added to the portfolio when Whyte & Mackay purchased the Tomintoul-Glenlivet Distillery Co, which owned both Fettercairn and Tomintoul distilleries, though the latter was sold on to Angus Dundee Distillers in 2000.
The Whyte & Mackay company was bought by Brent Walker in 1988 and then sold to American Brands two years later. In 1993 Whyte & Mackay acquired Invergordon Distillers after a hostile takeover battle, and this brought the company not only its own grain distillery at Invergordon, but the malt distilleries of Jura and Tamnavulin, along with Bruichladdich which was closed in 1995 and sold six years later, while Tullibardine was mothballed until its sale in 2003.
Meanwhile, in 2001, what had now become Fortune Brands sold Whyte & Mackay to management for £205 million, and the new venture was named Kyndal Spirits. Kyndal was ultimately headed by South African business tycoon Vivian Immerman, who reverted to the Whyte & Mackay name and developed a strategy that focused on the company’s whisky brands rather than third-party bottling.
Then in 2007, Indian-based United Breweries acquired Whyte & Mackay for £595 million, operating it through the United Spirits subsidiary. This lasted until the UK Competition and Markets Authority decreed that United Spirits must relinquish some assets after Diageo took a controlling interest in the Indian company, and in November 2014 Emperador Distilleries acquired Whyte & Mackay for £430 million.
DISTILLERIES & BRANDS
Ben Wyvis
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Claymore
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Dalmore
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Edinburgh Castle
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Fettercairn
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Glen Eagle
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Glenfoyle
BLENDED & SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Invergordon
HIGHLAND SINGLE GRAIN SCOTCH WHISKY
Inverness Cream
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
John Barr
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Jura
ISLANDS SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Laird's Reserve
HIGHLAND SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Mackinlay's
BLENDED & SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Old Mull
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Scots Bard
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Scottish Star
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Stewart's
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
Tamnavulin
SPEYSIDE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Usher's
BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKY
Whyte & Mackay
BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY
ASSOCIATED COMPANIES
Emperador Distillers Inc (Current owner)
Edinburgh Scotch Whisky Company
Invergordon Distillers
Leith Distillers
Longman Distillers
March United Spirits part of the Indian U.B. Group and owner of Whyte
& Mackay has sold more cases in the year ending March 2009, but
a drop in profits of 4 ½ %
The reason the high interest which they have to pay for the $ 600
million in 2007 to buy W & M
A company within the U B Group sold 10.2 % shares from United
Spirits.
United Spirits had already paid back $ 110 million and can now pay
another $180 million back
There was a rumour that Diageo should buy a stake in United Spirits
From Vijay Mallya, owner of United Spirits is said that he woold sell
a minority stake of 49 %, and later it wasd said that he would sell
Whyte & Mackay
October
W & M announces restructuring of their operations: no plant is closed
but 100 out of a workforce of 560 in Scotland will be redundant
November 2009
United Spirits is to sell new shares worth 190.000.000 - 220.000.000 Pounds to institutions
to help reduce its debt pile of almost 890.000.000 Pounds
A large part of the debt was incurred in United Spirit's 595.000.000 Pounds acquisition of
Whyte & Mackay Distillers in 2007
Vijay Mallya, would sell a stake in United Spirits to private - equity firms or Diageo of
15 %
It is said that at Whyte & Mackay Distillers, with the grain distillery Invergordon and the malt
& Mackay has sold more cases in the year ending March 2009, but
a drop in profits of 4 ½ %
The reason the high interest which they have to pay for the $ 600
million in 2007 to buy W & M
A company within the U B Group sold 10.2 % shares from United
Spirits.
United Spirits had already paid back $ 110 million and can now pay
another $180 million back
There was a rumour that Diageo should buy a stake in United Spirits
From Vijay Mallya, owner of United Spirits is said that he woold sell
a minority stake of 49 %, and later it wasd said that he would sell
Whyte & Mackay
October
W & M announces restructuring of their operations: no plant is closed
but 100 out of a workforce of 560 in Scotland will be redundant
November 2009
United Spirits is to sell new shares worth 190.000.000 - 220.000.000 Pounds to institutions
to help reduce its debt pile of almost 890.000.000 Pounds
A large part of the debt was incurred in United Spirit's 595.000.000 Pounds acquisition of
Whyte & Mackay Distillers in 2007
Vijay Mallya, would sell a stake in United Spirits to private - equity firms or Diageo of
15 %
It is said that at Whyte & Mackay Distillers, with the grain distillery Invergordon and the malt
distilleries (Old) Fettercairn, Dalmore, Jura and Tamnavulin, about 90 jobs were under
treath in Scotland and 15 in other countries
WHYTE & MACKAY, het eigendom van United Breweries, (U B ) van de Indiase
Vijay Mallya
Capacity:
Dalmore 4.200.000 litres
(Old) Fettercairn 2.300.000 litres
Jura 2.200.000 litres
Tamnavulin 4.000.000 litres
Vivian Imerman is mulling a return to Whyte & Mackay.
South African tycoon Vivian Imerman is expected to return to Scotland's whisky sector if Diageo agrees to sell Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay.
Imerman, a former chief executive of Whyte & Mackay, is considering an offer to buy back the business he sold six years ago if Diageo is forced to offload it to allay competition concerns. It would be an "important addition" to his current collection of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia.
Known as "the man from Del Monte" from his time as chief executive of that business, Imerman and his former brother-in-law, Robert Tchenguiz, led a group of investors who acquired Whyte & Mackay in 2001 in a £200 million deal.
In 2007, they sold the business to Vijay Mallya's United Spirits for £595m. That deal reportedly netted Imerman £396m.
It included a restraint clause that has since expired which barred Imerman from buying back the business for five years.
"I have done as much as I can do with the company and I have maximised income," he said at the time of the sale. "The company either needed to be bought or buy a brand to sell into emerging markets."
Diageo acquired Whyte & Mackay when it bought United Spirits last year as part of a wider-ranging bid to boost its presence in emerging markets.
The world's largest distiller said earlier this week that it would sell most of Whyte & Mackay to alleviate concerns from the Office of Fair trading that the acquisition could lead to higher prices for blended whisky in the UK. As Whyte & Mackay is a major supplier of own-label blended whisky to supermarkets and other retailers, its products compete heavily with Bell's and other Diageo brands.
Diageo has said it is willing to sell Whyte & Mackay's grain distilleries, but would prefer to keep the company's Dalmore and Tamnavulin malt brands. The OFT is considering this proposal and has suspended referring the case to the Competition Commission.
Imerman set up private investment group Vasari in 2008 and has served as its chairman since then. It is focused on "opportunities in emerging and frontier markets in consumer packaged goods".
In a statement issued yesterday by Vasari, Imerman confirmed he was interested in buying back the brand.
"Whyte & Mackay would make an important addition to the portfolio of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia where Mr Imerman has been concentrating his efforts through his company Vasari since his five-year restraint expired last year," the statement said.
"The W&M brand would be complementary to the strategy of acquiring and growing businesses in these regions to take advantage of rapid consumer growth."
Because the brand is not very strong, analysts say Whyte & Mackay is unlikely to fetch as high a premium as other spirits sales. Phil Carrol of Shore Capital reckons the price falls somewhere between the £200m paid for the business in 2001 and the £595m Imerman sold it for six years later.
"I would be surprised if they got to that top end, plus they won't be buying all of the business if the malts are taken out of the equation," Carrol said.
24 January, 2014
It's business as usual then at Whyte & Mackay - that is the Glasgow-based spirits producer is once more up for sale. Incredibly this is the 10th time since the beginning of the '70s and in those 40-plus years there have been no fewer than 18 MDs or CEOs come and go, and heaven only knows how many different marketing departments.
This time around the cause is Diageo's acquisition of a majority share in United Spirits - the Indian company which acquired Whyte & Mackay for a tad under £600 million back in 2007. Clearly anxious to avoid the scrutiny of the Office of Fair Trading, Diageo has made a pre-emptive strike with the announcement that it is to sell Whyte & Mackay but not lock, stock and smoking barrels - because apparently the world's number one multinational wants to keep the malt distilleries Dalmore (pictured) and Tamnavulin, but is OK with W&M's other distilleries - Old Fettercairn and Jura - going under the hammer.
As Diageo already boasts some 28 distilleries in its arsenal this decision has raised eyebrows in some quarters. "What on earth does it want Tamnavulin for? All its distilleries are expandable and it is pouring colossal amounts of investment into new distilleries like Roseisle," said one industry observer. "They must be a bargaining tool."
Both are good points. Tamnavulin is not a notable single malt and should the 'competition authorities' still chafe at Diageo's share of the Scotch whisky market creeping towards 40%, the drinks giant can offer up both Tamnavulin and Dalmore - which, as a singular spirit, has attracted a wide following among the single malt cognoscenti.
Of course Diageo's announcement has ushered forth a frenzy of speculation as to who will be the 11th owner of Whyte & Mackay. And there have been one or two comings and goings at the top which have added to the potpourri. Chief executive at the time of Diageo's bid for United Spirits, John Beard, has departed. His replacement, Bryan Donaghey, was previously managing director of Diageo Scotland until earlier this year when he moved to the role of Europe supply director, and finally to supply strategy director up until his decision to leave and almost in the same week he took up the reins at Whyte & Mackay.
Whyte & Mackay has offered no explanation for Beard's going and Diageo is tight-lipped over Donaghey, issuing a terse statement: "Bryan has severed his employment with Diageo and it is not appropriate for us to comment any further, but we wish him the very best for the future." The company did add that 'Bryan had served Diageo with 'distinction'. Clearly, though, 'Bryan' relishes the challenge as one would be forgiven for thinking he'd jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Just one more thing on Beard though. He came from the fused UK distribution arm of Bacardi and Brown-Forman, so perhaps it is no surprise that both Brown-Forman and Bacardi have been mentioned as possible Whyte & Mackay suitors, as has as has Greenall's owner Quintessential Brands, and there is speculation that there is growing interest among companies in China. How long is a piece of string?
Published 08/04/2014
US drinks giant Brown-Forman is understood to be one of several parties considering second-round bids for the Whyte & Mackay whisky business, expected to fetch around £350 million.
The bulk of Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay is being sold by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya's United Spirits to satisfy competition concerns arising from Diageo's purchase of a controlling stake in the Indian drinks firm.
There are thought to be five parties interested in acquiring the business, including SPI Group, owner of Stolichnaya vodka, Italy's Campari and private equity firms Lion Capital and TPG Capital Management were among the interested parties. Other media have reported that KKR was also bidding. Second-round bids are due on 17 April.
Brown-Forman came into the spotlight last week after a financial blog reported that the US maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey was eyeing French cognac maker Remy Cointreau.
In addition to Jack Daniel's, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company owns Southern Comfort and Herradura tequila.
Whyte & Mackay's latest financial report and accounts show that pre-tax profits rose 27 per cent to almost £33.6m in the year to end-March 2013 from £26.3m last time. Turn-over increased from £227.2m to £263.4m.
The profit was struck after exceptional charges of £1.9m relating to "onerous" lease provisions, property costs and some business restructuring.
Whyte & Mackay, whose other brands include Isle of Jura, Glayva and Claymore, said the lease provisions related to properties in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are vacant or sub-let at a discount.
An Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation last year said there was "substantial competition" in the retail sector between Bell's whisky, a Diageo label, and Whyte & Mackay's own-label and branded blended whisky.
The OFT concluded that the likely loss of competition could give rise to higher prices for retailers and consumers.
United Spirits, the Indian drinks group, has sold its Whyte & Mackay whisky business to Philippines-based rival Emperador in a deal that values the distiller at £430 million.
The Glasgow-based owner of the Fettercairn, Invergordon and Jura distilleries was put up for sale last year to appease competition regulators after Johnnie Walker parent company Diageo built up a stake of almost 28 per cent in United Spirits.
In April, Diageo launched a £1.1 billion bid to take control of United Spirits as it seeks to grow its presence in the world's largest market for whisky.
If successful, the tender offer would see Diageo - which also counts Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin among its stable of brands - owning almost 54.8 per cent of India's largest spirits maker, which was previously controlled by tycoon Vijay Mallya.
Mallya, who remains as the firm's chairman, said today: "I am very proud of what Whyte & Mackay had achieved under United Spirits' ownership.
"Moreover, I am delighted to be able to pass on Whyte & Mackay into the hands of a new owner who is committed to realising the full potential of the business and whose vision for Whyte & Mackay is aligned with that of United Spirits."
treath in Scotland and 15 in other countries
WHYTE & MACKAY, het eigendom van United Breweries, (U B ) van de Indiase
Vijay Mallya
Capacity:
Dalmore 4.200.000 litres
(Old) Fettercairn 2.300.000 litres
Jura 2.200.000 litres
Tamnavulin 4.000.000 litres
Vivian Imerman is mulling a return to Whyte & Mackay.
South African tycoon Vivian Imerman is expected to return to Scotland's whisky sector if Diageo agrees to sell Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay.
Imerman, a former chief executive of Whyte & Mackay, is considering an offer to buy back the business he sold six years ago if Diageo is forced to offload it to allay competition concerns. It would be an "important addition" to his current collection of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia.
Known as "the man from Del Monte" from his time as chief executive of that business, Imerman and his former brother-in-law, Robert Tchenguiz, led a group of investors who acquired Whyte & Mackay in 2001 in a £200 million deal.
In 2007, they sold the business to Vijay Mallya's United Spirits for £595m. That deal reportedly netted Imerman £396m.
It included a restraint clause that has since expired which barred Imerman from buying back the business for five years.
"I have done as much as I can do with the company and I have maximised income," he said at the time of the sale. "The company either needed to be bought or buy a brand to sell into emerging markets."
Diageo acquired Whyte & Mackay when it bought United Spirits last year as part of a wider-ranging bid to boost its presence in emerging markets.
The world's largest distiller said earlier this week that it would sell most of Whyte & Mackay to alleviate concerns from the Office of Fair trading that the acquisition could lead to higher prices for blended whisky in the UK. As Whyte & Mackay is a major supplier of own-label blended whisky to supermarkets and other retailers, its products compete heavily with Bell's and other Diageo brands.
Diageo has said it is willing to sell Whyte & Mackay's grain distilleries, but would prefer to keep the company's Dalmore and Tamnavulin malt brands. The OFT is considering this proposal and has suspended referring the case to the Competition Commission.
Imerman set up private investment group Vasari in 2008 and has served as its chairman since then. It is focused on "opportunities in emerging and frontier markets in consumer packaged goods".
In a statement issued yesterday by Vasari, Imerman confirmed he was interested in buying back the brand.
"Whyte & Mackay would make an important addition to the portfolio of spirits and beer businesses in Africa and Asia where Mr Imerman has been concentrating his efforts through his company Vasari since his five-year restraint expired last year," the statement said.
"The W&M brand would be complementary to the strategy of acquiring and growing businesses in these regions to take advantage of rapid consumer growth."
Because the brand is not very strong, analysts say Whyte & Mackay is unlikely to fetch as high a premium as other spirits sales. Phil Carrol of Shore Capital reckons the price falls somewhere between the £200m paid for the business in 2001 and the £595m Imerman sold it for six years later.
"I would be surprised if they got to that top end, plus they won't be buying all of the business if the malts are taken out of the equation," Carrol said.
24 January, 2014
It's business as usual then at Whyte & Mackay - that is the Glasgow-based spirits producer is once more up for sale. Incredibly this is the 10th time since the beginning of the '70s and in those 40-plus years there have been no fewer than 18 MDs or CEOs come and go, and heaven only knows how many different marketing departments.
This time around the cause is Diageo's acquisition of a majority share in United Spirits - the Indian company which acquired Whyte & Mackay for a tad under £600 million back in 2007. Clearly anxious to avoid the scrutiny of the Office of Fair Trading, Diageo has made a pre-emptive strike with the announcement that it is to sell Whyte & Mackay but not lock, stock and smoking barrels - because apparently the world's number one multinational wants to keep the malt distilleries Dalmore (pictured) and Tamnavulin, but is OK with W&M's other distilleries - Old Fettercairn and Jura - going under the hammer.
As Diageo already boasts some 28 distilleries in its arsenal this decision has raised eyebrows in some quarters. "What on earth does it want Tamnavulin for? All its distilleries are expandable and it is pouring colossal amounts of investment into new distilleries like Roseisle," said one industry observer. "They must be a bargaining tool."
Both are good points. Tamnavulin is not a notable single malt and should the 'competition authorities' still chafe at Diageo's share of the Scotch whisky market creeping towards 40%, the drinks giant can offer up both Tamnavulin and Dalmore - which, as a singular spirit, has attracted a wide following among the single malt cognoscenti.
Of course Diageo's announcement has ushered forth a frenzy of speculation as to who will be the 11th owner of Whyte & Mackay. And there have been one or two comings and goings at the top which have added to the potpourri. Chief executive at the time of Diageo's bid for United Spirits, John Beard, has departed. His replacement, Bryan Donaghey, was previously managing director of Diageo Scotland until earlier this year when he moved to the role of Europe supply director, and finally to supply strategy director up until his decision to leave and almost in the same week he took up the reins at Whyte & Mackay.
Whyte & Mackay has offered no explanation for Beard's going and Diageo is tight-lipped over Donaghey, issuing a terse statement: "Bryan has severed his employment with Diageo and it is not appropriate for us to comment any further, but we wish him the very best for the future." The company did add that 'Bryan had served Diageo with 'distinction'. Clearly, though, 'Bryan' relishes the challenge as one would be forgiven for thinking he'd jumped out of the frying pan into the fire.
Just one more thing on Beard though. He came from the fused UK distribution arm of Bacardi and Brown-Forman, so perhaps it is no surprise that both Brown-Forman and Bacardi have been mentioned as possible Whyte & Mackay suitors, as has as has Greenall's owner Quintessential Brands, and there is speculation that there is growing interest among companies in China. How long is a piece of string?
Published 08/04/2014
US drinks giant Brown-Forman is understood to be one of several parties considering second-round bids for the Whyte & Mackay whisky business, expected to fetch around £350 million.
The bulk of Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay is being sold by Indian billionaire Vijay Mallya's United Spirits to satisfy competition concerns arising from Diageo's purchase of a controlling stake in the Indian drinks firm.
There are thought to be five parties interested in acquiring the business, including SPI Group, owner of Stolichnaya vodka, Italy's Campari and private equity firms Lion Capital and TPG Capital Management were among the interested parties. Other media have reported that KKR was also bidding. Second-round bids are due on 17 April.
Brown-Forman came into the spotlight last week after a financial blog reported that the US maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey was eyeing French cognac maker Remy Cointreau.
In addition to Jack Daniel's, the Louisville, Kentucky-based company owns Southern Comfort and Herradura tequila.
Whyte & Mackay's latest financial report and accounts show that pre-tax profits rose 27 per cent to almost £33.6m in the year to end-March 2013 from £26.3m last time. Turn-over increased from £227.2m to £263.4m.
The profit was struck after exceptional charges of £1.9m relating to "onerous" lease provisions, property costs and some business restructuring.
Whyte & Mackay, whose other brands include Isle of Jura, Glayva and Claymore, said the lease provisions related to properties in Glasgow and Edinburgh that are vacant or sub-let at a discount.
An Office of Fair Trading (OFT) investigation last year said there was "substantial competition" in the retail sector between Bell's whisky, a Diageo label, and Whyte & Mackay's own-label and branded blended whisky.
The OFT concluded that the likely loss of competition could give rise to higher prices for retailers and consumers.
United Spirits, the Indian drinks group, has sold its Whyte & Mackay whisky business to Philippines-based rival Emperador in a deal that values the distiller at £430 million.
The Glasgow-based owner of the Fettercairn, Invergordon and Jura distilleries was put up for sale last year to appease competition regulators after Johnnie Walker parent company Diageo built up a stake of almost 28 per cent in United Spirits.
In April, Diageo launched a £1.1 billion bid to take control of United Spirits as it seeks to grow its presence in the world's largest market for whisky.
If successful, the tender offer would see Diageo - which also counts Smirnoff vodka and Tanqueray gin among its stable of brands - owning almost 54.8 per cent of India's largest spirits maker, which was previously controlled by tycoon Vijay Mallya.
Mallya, who remains as the firm's chairman, said today: "I am very proud of what Whyte & Mackay had achieved under United Spirits' ownership.
"Moreover, I am delighted to be able to pass on Whyte & Mackay into the hands of a new owner who is committed to realising the full potential of the business and whose vision for Whyte & Mackay is aligned with that of United Spirits."
Whyte and Mackay operates Dalmore distillery at Alness in Ross-shire, Fettercairn in Kincardineshire, Tamnavulin in the heart of Speyside, and Jura on the eponymous Hebridean island, along with Invergordon grain distillery, close to Dalmore. The company produces Whyte & Mackay blended Scotch whisky and a range of aged blends, plus Vladivar vodka and the Glayva liqueur.
While the output of Fettercairn and Tamnavulin distilleries is largely destined for blending, both Jura and Dalmore have been developed as relatively high-profile single malt brands, with Dalmore even challenging Macallan for record-breaking prices in relation to very limited, aged expressions. Whyte & Mackay has its headquarters in St Vincent Street, Glasgow.
The company traces its origins back to 1844, and the establishment of Allan & Poynter in Glasgow, a business managed by James Whyte prior to the formation of his partnership in 1882 with Charles Mackay. The pair traded as whisky merchants and bonded warehousemen, and launched their own blended Scotch under the name Whyte & Mackay Special.
The company remained in private hands until 1972, when it was acquired by Sir Hugh Fraser’s Scottish and Universal Investments, in turn taken over by Lonrho Ltd in 1981. In 1960 Whyte & Mackay had merged with the Mackenzie Bros, owners of Dalmore, giving the company its first distillery.
In 1973 Fettercairn was added to the portfolio when Whyte & Mackay purchased the Tomintoul-Glenlivet Distillery Co, which owned both Fettercairn and Tomintoul distilleries, though the latter was sold on to Angus Dundee Distillers in 2000.
The Whyte & Mackay company was bought by Brent Walker in 1988 and then sold to American Brands two years later. In 1993 Whyte & Mackay acquired Invergordon Distillers after a hostile takeover battle, and this brought the company not only its own grain distillery at Invergordon, but the malt distilleries of Jura and Tamnavulin, along with Bruichladdich which was closed in 1995 and sold six years later, while Tullibardine was mothballed until its sale in 2003.
Meanwhile, in 2001, what had now become Fortune Brands sold Whyte & Mackay to management for £205 million, and the new venture was named Kyndal Spirits. Kyndal was ultimately headed by South African business tycoon Vivian Immerman, who reverted to the Whyte & Mackay name and developed a strategy that focused on the company’s whisky brands rather than third-party bottling.
Then in 2007, Indian-based United Breweries acquired Whyte & Mackay for £595 million, operating it through the United Spirits subsidiary. This lasted until the UK Competition and Markets Authority decreed that United Spirits must relinquish some assets after Diageo took a controlling interest in the Indian company, and in November 2014 Emperador Distilleries acquired Whyte & Mackay for £430 million.
WHYTE & MACKAY RELEASES LOW-ABV ‘DRINK’
May 2019
Glasgow-based blender Whyte & Mackay has introduced a new, low-abv ‘spirit drink’ for those who are ’keeping an eye on their alcohol intake’.
Lighter option: Whyte & Mackay Light is designed for those looking to reduce their alcohol intake
Whyte & Mackay Light is a ‘lighter spirit drink from Scotland’ made using spirits distilled from malt and grain that have spent time in ex-Sherry and Bourbon casks and bottled at 21.5% abv.
The expression is legally defined as a ‘spirit drink’ as it is bottled at a lower alcohol strength than the legal minimum of 40% abv for Scotch.
Described as having a ‘rich, smooth and slightly smoky’ character, Whyte & Mackay Light has been designed for mixing as a long drink, or enjoying neat or over ice.
Rod Gillies, head of innovation at Whyte & Mackay, which also owns the Jura, Dalmore and Fettercairn distilleries, said: ‘People trust Whyte & Mackay to make a great-tasting spirit and, thanks to our expert distilling team, Whyte & Mackay Light tastes fantastic – either straight over ice, or served with your favourite mixer.
‘Now, with Whyte & Mackay Light, we’re using the strength of one of our existing brands to deliver an attractive option for the growing number of consumers who may be looking to keep an eye on their alcohol intake.’
A study conducted by The Lancet showed that Britons are drinking less alcohol, with the average consumption falling from 12.6 litres of pure alcohol a year in 1990, to 11.4 litres in 2017.
The medical journal has also predicted the statistic will drop by a further 11 litres per adult by 2030.
Whyte & Mackay said where there are more ‘low and no’ abv beer, cider and wine options than ever before, it recognised a gap in the market for low-abv spirit drinks.
Ruairi Perry, head of brand, said: ‘It’s a different product with the same younger consumer in mind.
‘It leads the way in the spirits category as a quality spirit drink, available at a lower abv, expertly crafted to be surprisingly smooth, whether it is enjoyed neat or as a long-serve.’
The new Whyte & Mackay expression will be exclusively available in Tesco for £12 per 70cl bottle, and will be rolled out across other UK retailers by the end of the year.
Whyte & Mackay, which makes a range of blended whiskies for various markets around the world, expects to introduce lower-abv spirit drink versions of its core blended whisky brands in the near future.
Diageo was the first to introduce a low-abv ‘whisky’ in Korea in 2015, with the introduction of W Ice by Windsor.
WHYTE & MACKAY LAUNCHES EXPERIMENTAL ARM
March 2019
Glasgow-based blender Whyte & Mackay (W&M) is releasing a new range of ‘experimental’ whiskies under an independent arm named The Whisky Works.
Gregg Glass of Whyte & Mackay and The Whisky Works
Experimental flair: Whyte & Mackay’s Gregg Glass will pursue innovation at The Whisky Works
Headed by W&M whisky maker Gregg Glass, The Whisky Works will be a space for the blender’s ‘bid for perfection by offering creative freedom over the selection and maturation’ of its whiskies.
The first two whiskies in the Whisky Works range are a ‘Modern Whisky Experiment’ named King of Trees, and a ‘Classic Whisky’ named The 29-year-old Glaswegian.
King of Trees is a 10-year-old blended malt part-finished in a single Scottish Highland oak cask.
With notes of ‘apple and pear, vanilla and aromatic cinnamon,’ King of Trees has been bottled at 46.4% abv.
The 29-year-old Glaswegian is a single grain from an unnamed silent distillery ‘which once stood at the heart of Scotland’s waterways’.
Matured in American white oak casks and bottled at 54.2% abv, the whisky is said to have notes of ‘rich butterscotch, custard and exotic fruit rounded off with caramelised crème brûlée’.
Glass, who works alongside W&M master blender Richard Paterson, said the inspiration for the Whisky Works range came from his many collaborations with other wine and spirit producers, coopers and sawmills.
He said: ‘Whisky making is a true passion of mine. Along the way I have been fortunate to develop relationships with brilliant producers connected right along the whisky making process right back to the individual foresters that manage the woodland that produces our casks.
‘The Whisky Works is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate what can be achieved in the production of a Scotch whisky.’
Just 2,157 bottles of King of Trees have been produced at a price of £75 per 70cl bottle, while 1,642 bottles of 29-year-old Glaswegian have been created, priced at £130 each.
Both expressions will be launched at Whisky Live in London on 29-30 March, before being available exclusively at online retailer The Whisky Exchange for two weeks
THE WOODSMAN BLEND TO RECRUIT NEW GENERATION
August 2018
New blended Scotch whisky The Woodsman has been launched to appeal to younger consumers usually unattracted to ‘traditional’ Scotch branding.
The Woodsman blended Scotch
Wood-driven: The Woodsman is matured in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-Bourbon casks
The new blend, from Glasgow-based producer Whyte & Mackay, is a no-age-statement blend with a ‘stylish look’ and wood-driven flavour profile.
Matured in a combination of virgin American oak and ex-Bourbon casks and bottled at 40% abv, the expression is described as having notes of vanilla, spice and a ‘subtle, smoky sweetness’.
‘The Woodsman is a real category disrupter,’ said Steven Pearson, global marketing director at Whyte & Mackay.
‘Our research showed us there are younger consumers drinking across several categories but avoiding Scotch because they’re put off by traditional category cues.’
Launched this week at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe’s Underbelly, The Woodsman will be available across the UK for around £28 a bottle.
The introduction of The Woodsman follows Whyte & Mackay’s relaunch of Fettercairn single malt last week, and Jura earlier this year.
Whyte & Mackay launches whisky-based spirit drink
May, 2019
Whyte & Mackay Light
Whyte & Mackay Light has been launched in the UK as a “premium spirit drink from Scotland” with a 21.5% abv.
The liquid cannot be labeled scotch whisky due to the abv sitting below 40% and the product is in response to the growing trend to reduce alcohol intake.
Ruairi Perry, head of brand at Whyte & Mackay, said:
“We’re continually looking at trends in drinks and listening to our consumers across the UK.
“We see a different type of drinking occasion emerging – and Whyte & Mackay Light has been developed to satisfy that occasion.”
Whyte & Mackay Light is available now from Tesco stores across the UK with an RSP £12 and uses its existing blended scotch in production.
Rod Gillies, head of innovation at Whyte & Mackay, said:
“With Whyte & Mackay Light, we’re using the strength of one of our existing brands to deliver an attractive option for the growing number of consumers who may be looking to keep an eye on their alcohol intake.
“People trust Whyte & Mackay to make a great-tasting spirit and, thanks to our expert distilling team, Whyte & Mackay Light tastes fantastic – either straight over ice, or served with your favourite mixer. We think it’s a compelling addition to the spirit drink category, and we’re looking forward to introducing consumers and shoppers to it.”
WHISKY WORKS REVEALS NEW ‘INNOVATIONS’
September 2019
Whisky Works, an ‘innovation arm’ of Whyte & Mackay, has added two new expressions to its range, Quartermaster and a 20-year-old Speyside malt finished in Cognac casks.
Whisky Works Quartermaster and Speyside 20 Year Old
‘Experimental approach’: Whisky Works introduces the new Quartermaster and Speyside 20 Year Old
Whisky maker Gregg Glass created Quartermaster as a ‘modern whisky experiment’, an 11-year-old blended whisky combining grain and malt whiskies matured in four different casks.
Glass used Highland grain whisky matured in ex-rum barrels, further maturing a portion in PX Sherry casks for ‘more rich flavours’.
He then combined the whisky with two Speyside malts, one matured in American white oak, the other in Sherry butts.
The resulting whisky has been bottled at 46.4% abv, and is described as having a ‘fresh, vibrant character with notes of almonds, rum-steeped peaches, ginger, coffee and dried fruit’.
Just 2,134 bottles will be made available, priced at £75 per 70cl bottle.
Meanwhile, the 20-year-old Speyside edition is a single malt from an unnamed silent distillery, matured for 20 years in American white oak casks before being finished for seven monts in Cognac barriques from the Bourgoin Estate.
Bottled at 47.1% abv, the whisky is described as having ‘sweet herbal notes’ with ‘aromas of milk chocolate, violet florals, brandy snaps, rose, and strawberries and cream’.
Only 1,593 bottles have been created, priced at £150 each.
Glass said: ‘At the Whisky Works, we’ve worked hard to cultivate strong relationships with world-class producers to bring us closer to every part of the whisky making process.
‘The collaboration and experimentation involved in the making of these two whiskies really demonstrates the core values of what the Whisky Works is all about.’
The Whisky Works range launched earlier this year and also includes the Glaswegian, a 29-year-old single grain, and King of Trees, a 10-year-old Highland blended malt part-finished in native Scottish oak.
The two new editions will be unveiled at the Whisky Show London this weekend (28-29 September), with Glass running a series of free masterclasses featuring the whole Whisky Works range as part of Scotchwhisky.com’s Evolution of the Cask experience.
Registration for the classes will be offered at the Evolution of the Class experience on the first floor of the show at Old Billingsgate, and accepted on a first-come-first-served basis
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Emperador Inc. (EMP) is a holding company which operates an integrated business of manufacturing, bottling and distributing distilled spirits and other alcoholic beverages from the Philippines and Europe.
Through Emperador Distillers, Inc. (EDI), EMP has established its identity in the Philippine alcoholic beverages business with steady growth and production of high quality liquor. EDI is the Philippines’ largest liquor company and the world’s largest brandy producer.
The consolidated product portfolio is comprised of domestic and foreign brands led by Emperador Light, Emperador Deluxe, Andy Player Whisky, Smirnoff Mule, The Bar, The Dalmore and Jura Scotch single malt whiskies, and Fundador.
In 1990, Emperador Brandy was launched as Philippines’ first brandy label. This brandy was produced through a delicate blending and aging process. The result is a brandy of distinctive aroma flavor and consistent mellow quality. One look, one sip and it becomes clear to all that Emperador is a world-class product that is easily affordable.
Through dynamic marketing and by establishing a reputation for product quality, EDI created demand for brandy in the Philippine spirits market. Emperador Brandy has now started to expand its brand footprint outside the Philippines. It holds its position as the world's largest brandy by volume and it is now being distributed in 40 countries across Asia, North America, Africa, Middle East, and Europe.
In 2010, Emperador Light was introduced in response to a growing market for alcoholic beverages with lower alcohol content and targeted the younger alcoholic beverage consumers.
In 2014 and 2015, the company acquired Whyte and Mackay, and Bodegas Fundador, respectively. Through Whyte and Mackay Group Limited (WMG or Whyte and Mackay) of United Kingdom, EMP has entered the global Scotch whisky business.
WMG has a rich heritage of a Scottish spirits company, which is the fifth largest Scotch whisky manufacturer in the world, and its products are distributed in over 50 countries. And with EMP’s most recent purchase of the brandy and sherry business from Beam Suntory (Bodegas Fundador, completed in February 2016), EMP has fortified its brandy and sherry business, and has strengthened its overall liquor business.
As a global company, Emperador Inc. is now able to capitalize on its worldwide distribution network catapulting its full range of brandy and whisky products led by Emperador and Fundador brandy as well as single malt whisky The Dalmore and Jura plus Whyte & Mackay and John Barr blended whiskies.
A new era has indeed begun for Emperador
A new arm of the company named Whisky Works is focussing on alternative ways o producing Scotch whisky, new barley types and yeast and also new tyes of oak
both for new flavours and sustainability. this is for all distilleries in the group
The man behind this is Gregg Glass who lefthis job as blender at Compass Box in 2016 to join W & M.
OUR TRIPLE
MATURATION PROCESS
The secret behind the award-winning taste of Whyte & Mackay is our triple maturation process and the way we blend to make sure no single whisky dominates another, creating a harmony of flavours that work together to produce our famous smoother, richer taste.
The story begins with choosing the finest aged single malts and aged grain whiskies from two of Scotland's most famous distilling regions, Highland and Speyside. Then we carefully age the malt whisky whilst separately aging the grain whisky. Most blended whiskies stop at this stage
but Whyte and Mackay add an additional step.
The final chapter of the maturation story sees the marrying of these two different whiskies in sherry casks. This triple maturation process produces a whisky rich in colour with golden highlights, round and full on the nose with smooth, rich flavours of honey and fruits. As in life, we believe the more dedication and effort we put in, the more you will be rewarded.
EMPERADOR DISTILLERS INC
Emerador Distilleries is one of three companies within the Alliance Global Group, headed by Dr Andrew Tan, a self-made Chinese Filipino billionaire whose business interests embrace not only drinks but also real estate and fast food.
Emperador is now the world’s best-selling brandy, retailing 400 million bottles in Asia during 2013. The company owns the renowned Bodega San Bruno in Jerez, Spain and vineyards in Toledo. With the acquisition of the Bodega came a significant quantity of brandy that is maturing in ex-Sherry casks.
In Scotland, Emperador owns Glasgow-based Whyte & Mackay, which operates Dalmore, Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin malt distilleries, along with Invergordon grain distillery, and produces Whyte & Mackay blended Scotch whiskies and the Glayva liqueur.
EMPERADOR DISTILLERS INC HISTORY
Andrew Tan launched Emperador brandy in 1990, at a time when gin and rum were the most popular spirits in the Philippines, and its image is of a vibrant, aspirational drink for younger consumers.
Emperador Light was introduced in 2010, followed three years later by Emperador Deluxe, which helped establish the company as a global player in the premium spirits sector. The same year, Emperador acquired The Bodega San Bruno from González Byass, and the San Bruno brandy trademark, registered in 1942.
November 2014 saw the completion of a £430 million deal between Emperador and United Spirits of India for Whyte & Mackay Distillers, with the sale being forced by the UK Competition and Markets Authority after Diageo bought into United Spirits.