Whyte & Mackay

Whyte and Mackay was established by James Whyte and Charles Mackay who met and bonded as warehouse men for a company called Allan and Poynter who stored dry good and later expanded to include spirits. When the warehouse owner, William Scott, passed away, the pair bought and took over the running of the business, renaming it Whyte and Mackay.

The pair first venture into whisky blending when they created their own whisky blending facility on Roberston Lane in Glasgow. Whyte and Mackay Special was their first release which became very popular around the world.

Like most distillers, the company suffered during American prohibition, but they managed to survive and take advantage of the high demand created when it was repealed in the 1930’s. After the second world war, Whyte and Mackay focused their efforts on the home market, a smart move that resulted in a huge period of growth for the company, one that has propelled them to be the successful brand they are today.