Ballantine's is a brand of

blended Scotch whisky A blend is a mixture of two or more different substances. Blend may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * Blend (album), ''Blend'' (album), a 1996 album by BoDeans * The Blend (Sirius XM), a North American satellite radio channel * "Blend", a ...

produced by the Chivas Brothers subsidiary of

Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard () is a French company best known for its anise-flavoured pastis apéritifs Pernod Anise and Ricard Pastis (often referred to simply as ''Pernod'' or '' Ricard''). The world's second-largest wine and spirits seller, it also produ ...

Dumbarton Dumbarton (; , or ; or , meaning 'fort of the Britons (historical), Britons') is a town in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven, Dunbartonshire, River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. ...

Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of the island of Great Britain and more than 790 adjac ...

. The Ballantine's flavour is dependent on fingerprint malts from Miltonduff and Glenburgie, blended with 50 single malts and four single grains. The brand has won many accolades and awards for its products. The world's second highest selling Scotch whisky in 2021, it has historically been strong in Southern Europe.

History

Ballantine's Scotch whisky can trace its heritage back to 1827, when farmer's son George Ballantine set up a small grocery store in Edinburgh supplying a range of whiskies to his clientele. In 1865 George delegated the store's operation to his eldest son, Archibald, while he opened a larger establishment in Glasgow. Here he concentrated on the wine and spirit trade, catering to clients that included the Hindu Royal Family. He also began to create his own blends. These inspired additional demand, drawing second son, George junior, into the business. Trading as "George Ballantine and Son Ltd", the firm added a

bonded warehouse A bonded warehouse, or bond, is a building or other secured area in which imported but dutiable goods may be stored, manipulated, or undergo manufacturing operations without payment of duty. They may then be again exported without payment of duty. ...

and began to export their Scotch. George senior retired in 1881 and died 10 years later at age 83 with George junior taking over. Business thrived under George junior, and the family sold out profitably to the firm of Barclay and McKinlay in 1919. Building on the reputation and goodwill of the "Ballantine's" name, the new owners focused on developing it as a brand for their blended whiskies. When increasing resources were needed to compete fully in the growing world market, the internationally experienced Canadian distilling concern of Hiram Walker Gooderham & Worts acquired Ballantine's in 1937. The next year the company received the Grant of Heraldic Arms featured on their bottles, recognising George Ballantine & Son as an "incorporation noble on the Noblesse of Scotland". The new owners' first task was to secure fillings, to which end the Miltonduff and Glenburgie Distilleries were purchased, and a massive new grain distillery – the largest in Europe – built at Dumbarton. During the 1960s the company turned to Europe – at that time an unexplored market for Scotch whisky – and by 1965 had secured such a strong foothold there that it resolved to gear the home trade to supporting the overseas business. Strong distribution and the popularity of Scotch whisky in the mid-1980s were key influencers in growth. Ballantine's was named the number one brand in Europe and the third largest in the world in 1986 with the oldest product Ballantine's Finest. In Korea, Ballantine's is the clear number one in the category with its ever-popular Ballantine's 17 in addition to 21 and 30. In 1988, the company became part of the global beverage conglomerate

Allied Domecq Allied Domecq PLC was a multinational company, headquartered in Bristol, United Kingdom, that operated spirits, wine, and quick service restaurant businesses. It was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent and the world's second-largest spirits gro ...

. In 2002 the large Dumbarton Grain distillery was mothballed, with production shifting to the Strathclyde Grain distillery in the

Gorbals The Gorbals is an area in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, and former burgh, on the south bank of the River Clyde. By the late 19th century, it had become densely populated; rural migrants and immigrants were attracted by the new industries and e ...

of Glasgow. In 2005 Ballantine's was acquired by

. Ballantines still maintain a large bonded warehouse complex in Dumbarton East and a bottling plant to the North of the town. In 2006, Sandy Hyslop was appointed as Ballantine's Master Blender – the 5th Master Blender in Ballantine's 180-year history. In November 2024, Ballantine’s releases its first single grain expression, named Ballantine’s Single Distillery.

Products

Ballantine's produces a range of seven expressions with various characteristics and age statements: *Finest: blended – "soft, sweet and complex" *Limited: blended – "creamy soft and smooth" *12-year-old: blended – "fresh, soft, and nutty" *12-year-old "Pure Malt": blended malt – "honey sweet, spicy and deep" *17-year-old: blended – "creamy, harmonious and oak-sweetness" *21-year-old: blended – "spig, aromatic and heather smoke" *30-year-old: blended – "rich, oak influenced and lingering" *40-year-old: blended – "incredible depth, complex and extremely fruity"

References

External links

Ballantines Official SitePernod Ricard websiteArchived official websiteLeave an impression website sponsored by Ballantine'sLeave an impression website (Germany)Leave an impression website (Portugal)
{{Pernod Ricard Pernod Ricard brands Chivas Brothers brands Blended Scotch whisky Food and drink companies established in 1827 1827 establishments in Scotland Companies based in West Dunbartonshire Dumbarton British companies established in 1827