History of Ian Macleod Distillers Limited

• Ian Macleod & Company Limited was established on 26 October 1933.
• Leonard Russell Snr owned his own whisky broking company in 1936. He died in 1956. 
• Ian Macleod & Co Ltd was acquired by the Russell family on 18 march 1963; Peter Russell was Managing Director.
• David Russell, Peter’s younger brother, joined the company in 1964 and was a Director, retiring in 2000.
• Acquired the company and label called William Maxwell
• Leonard Russell, Peter’s son, joined the company in 1989 as Business Development Manager, and appointed Marketing Director in January 1993.
• Ian Macleod/J & G Grant - joint venture set up the bottling operation, Broxburn Bottlers, in July 1984.
• Peter Russell appointed Chairman and Leonard Russell appointed Managing Director in 2000.
• Ian Macleod & Co Ltd changed its name to its current name, Ian Macleod Distillers Limited, following the acquisition of Glengoyne Distillery and the Langs brands in April 2003.

Acquisition of brands
 

• Isle Of Skye blended scotch whisky – 1963
• King Robert range of spirits - 1968
• London Hill Gin –  1990
• Wincarnis Tonic Wine – 1998

• Hedges & Butler scotch whiskies - 1998
• Watson's Demerara and Watson's Trawler rums –  2000
• Glengoyne Distillery and the Langs brands - 2003

As well as the above brands which were acquired, Ian Macleod Distillers has developed a number of other brands including

• Chieftain’s
• Dun Bheagan
• Smokehead
• The Six Isles
• Macleod’s Regional Malts
• Magilligan