INDEPENDENT whisky company Douglas Laing & Co has acquired the Strathearn Distillery in Perthshire.
The move sees the family-owned bottler, which was founded in 1948, move into distillation for the first time, although it is also progressing with plans to construct a distillery in Glasgow. Its brands include the Old Particular and Xtra Old Particular ranges as well as its Remarkable Regional Malts bottlings: The Epicurean (from the lowlands); Timorous Beastie (Highlands); Scallywag (Speyside); The Gauldrons (Campbeltown); Rock Island (the islands); and Big Peat (Islay).
Strathearn began production in 2013 and distils gin and rum as well as single malt whisky. The gin and rum products will continue to be produced under a newly-established company called The Whisky Garden.
Cara Laing, director of whisky at Douglas Laing & Co, described the acquisition as “a proud and historic landmark” for the company.
“For its first seven decades in the wonderful world of whisky, our family firm has been renowned amongst the finest independent bottlers, celebrated for our Remarkable Regional Malts and Exceptional Single Casks brands. 2019, our 71st year in business, is the year we take a monumental leap, adding ‘distiller’ to our credentials and beginning a new chapter in our journey.
“A distillery very much in its infancy, Strathearn affords us the opportunity to create an extraordinary brand home for our family business and a global single malt brand steeped in our family firm’s history, heritage and passion.”
