Hill, Thomson and Co. begins with William Hill who, in 1793 opened a grocer in Edinburgh, though by 1799 it was so successful that he moved it to a larger site on Frederick Street, where it was to remain for over 200 years.
His eldest son, William Jr, joined the company in 1815, and his brother Robert joined after the death of their father in 1818. The two changed the name of the company to William and Robert Hill. After William and Robert died in 1837, the third brother, George took over, and he renamed the company after himself and it became George Hill and Co. It was only the year after that the company was awarded a Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria.
1857 saw George partner with William Thompson, and the company changed its name yet again to Hill, Thompson & Co. Ltd. - you’ll be pleased to know this was the last time the brand name was changed. It was also during this period that the company began to blend and bottle its own whiskies.
Salesman William Shaw joined the brand in 1977, and in 1902 he established the flagship whisky, Queen Anne blend, and for this success he was appointed chairman of the company. Because of this, when Shaw’s sons returned from the war they became partners and eventually arranged a merger to form The Glenlivet Distillers Ltd.
In 1977, The Glenlivet Distillers was bought by Seagram and was eventually acquired by Pernod Ricard.