Description
But the Distilleries Went On. THE MORRISON BOWMORE STORY. The History of a Scotch Whisky Company 1951-2014.
Morrison Bowmore Distillers (MBD) started life in 1951 as an independent player in an industry largely dominated by the dinosaur that was The Distillers Company. Its founder was Stanley P Morrison who, with partner James Howat, astutely built the company into one of Scotch whisky’s major players. Then, with the assistance of Stanley’s sons Brian and Tim they eventually created a distillery portfolio of Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Glen Garioch. A considerable trade in bulk whisky was built up but as this market declined and interest in single malts grew, the firm developed its branded business. In 1989, Suntory of Japan acquired a stake, later to assume full control. Since 2000, under CEO Mike Keiller, Morrison Bowmore Distillers has evolved into a single malt specialist concentrating almost exclusively on its three core brands. As this history receives its finishing touches, 2014 will represent the final chapter as the business is subsumed into the new Beam Suntory group, thus becoming part of the Scotch whisky industries rich history.
