Allied Distillers

Prior to its acquisition of Hiram Walker-Gooderham & Worts, the beverage interests of the diverse Allied Lyons portfolio were operated through a subsidiary company called Allied Vintners. Over time, the company opted to place greater focus on this part of its business and fixed itself on the ambitious takeover of the Canadian distilling giant in 1985. The deal was completed in 1987 and vastly enlarged the Scotch whisky holdings of Allied Lyons who set up the new subsidiary, Allied Distillers, to manage it.

The core brand in the Allied Distillers portfolio was Ballantine’s, inherited from Hiram Walker. Then as it is now, it was one of the world’s best-selling blended Scotch labels. With the brand came its associated malt distilleries in Miltonduff, Glenburgie and Scapa alongside the rest of the Hiram Walker distilleries: Ardbeg, Balblair, Glencadam, Pulteney, the Dumbarton grain distillery and the stock from the recently closed Glenugie. These joined the Glendronach distillery which it owned through Wm. Teacher & Sons.

Allied Distillers grew even further in 1989 when they acquired Long John International, the spirits division of Whitbread, another British multinational that was opting to focus on its hotel and catering interests. This saw the addition of the Black Bottle and Long John blends to the Allied stable, along with the Laphroaig and Tormore malt distilleries, and Strathclyde grain distillery.

This was a period when the single malt market was beginning to find its feet, and was a particular focus for the rival United Distillers, who launched their Classic Malts of Scotland collection in 1988. Allied Distillers responded to this with their own Caledonian Malts in 1991, which co-promoted their Laphroaig, Glendronach, Miltonduff and Tormore brands. Sluggish sales for the latter saw it replaced by Scapa however.

Allied Distillers remained the spirits division of new parent company, Allied Domecq, when Allied Lyons merged with Pedro Domecq in 1995. Some streamlining of its operations took place however, with Pulteney and Balblair quickly sold to Inver House before Ardbeg and Glencadam were dispensed with as well. The new company then became a target for the ambitious Pernod Ricard and the French firm eventually acquired it in 2005, becoming the second largest spirits producer in the world. Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky interests were operated through the Chivas Regal subsidiary, and the assets of Allied Distillers were transferred to it in the process.