About Fettercairn Whisky Distillery
Distillery Owner
Whyte & Mackay Ltd (United Spirits)
Distillery Founded
1824
Distillery Status
Active
Distillery Capacity
2 300 000 litres
Distillery Address
Fettercairn, Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire AB30 1YB
Distillery Number
01561 340205
Distillery Website
www.whyteandmackay.co.uk
1824
Sir Alexander Ramsay, owner of Fasque Estate, founds the distillery.
1825
The first licensee is James Stewart & Co.
1830
Sir Alexander Ramsay sells Fasque Estate and the distillery to Sir John Gladstone.
1887
A fire erupts and the distillery is forced to close for repairs.
1890
Thomas Gladstone dies and his son John Robert takes over. The distillery reopens after the fire.
1912
The company is close to liquidation and John Gladstone buys out the other investors.
1926
he distillery is mothballed.
1939
The distillery is bought by Associated Scottish Distillers Ltd. Production restarts.
1960
The maltings discontinues.
1966
The stills are increased from two to four.
1971
The distillery is bought by Tomintoul-Glenlivet Distillery Co. Ltd owned by W. & S. Strong & Co. and Hay & McLeod & Co.
1973
Tomintoul-Glenlivet Distillery Co. Ltd is bought by Whyte & Mackay Distillers Ltd.
1974
The mega group of companies Lonrho buys Whyte & Mackay.
1988
Lonrho sells to Brent Walker Group plc.
1989
A visitor centre opens.
1990
American Brands Inc. buys Whyte & Mackay for £160 million.
1996
Whyte & Mackay and Jim Beam Brands merge to become JBB Worldwide.
2001
Kyndal Spirits, a company formed by managers at Whyte & Mackay, buys Whyte & Mackay from JBB Worldwide.
2002
The whisky undergoes a major makeover including new bottle, new packaging and the name which is changed from Old Fettercairn to Fettercairn 1824.
2003
Kyndal Spirits changes name to Whyte & Mackay.
2007
United Spirits buys Whyte & Mackay. A 23 year old single cask is released.
Reproduced from the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2009 with the kind permission of Mr Ingvar Ronde