Top 20 Scotch Brands in the World

Scotch is one of the most preferred and revered spirits in the world. It is either grain or malt whiskey and must be made from malted barley and that too in Scotland. The other vital thing about Scotch whiskey is that it should be kept and aged in only oak barrels and that too for a minimum of three years. Its preparation is considered an intimidating art which requires mystical guidance to create a perfect blend.

The market for good quality Scotch whiskey is on the rise as several leading brands have posted great revenues and impressive earnings over the years. The blend, quality, and excellence of Scotch whiskey are unparallel and it has been often rightly described as sensational and wonderful.

1) JOHNNIE WALKER

In the realm of Scotch brands, the one name which typically occupies the topmost position is JOHNNIE WALKER, which continues to stride ahead by outselling all its competitors. It is an iconic and stylish global brand that is often called an innovative and pioneering spirit. It is recognizable because of its square shaped bottle and slanting label of a striding man.

JOHNNIE WALKER is a Scottish origin brand of Scotch whiskey that is currently owned by its parent company Diageo. It was introduced in the year 1820 by its founder John Walker and presently is marketed in more than one hundred and eighty countries. The brand has seen an unprecedented rise in its sales volume that includes 18.1 million cases sold annually at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

JOHNNIE WALKER has expanded its product portfolio over the years to include several color variations like blue, green, double black and has also rebranded the edition of Platinum Label. It has been an avid sponsor of several events like Formula One, and F1 teams Force India and McLaren.

2) BALLANTINE’S

The magic of ancient distilleries which continues to rule the world can be felt in a BALLANTINE, which is known for its complexity and smoothness. It is the second-highest brand of Scotch whiskey in terms of sales volume at 6.7 million cases sold annually at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

BALLANTINE’s is a Scotch brand of blended whiskey that was introduced in the year 1827 by its founder Pernod Ricard from a store in Edinburg.

The brand has maintained its position in the market because of its limited edition bottles and its core malts like Miltonduff, Glentauchers, and Glenburgie which are a favorite amongst the connoisseurs. It has marketed its products in the international arena with help of sponsorship deals by sponsoring Dumbarton Football Club and Scottish Open Golf Tournament.

3) GRANT’S

If you are considering the Scotch brands which commands top dollars because of their immediate distribution of best flavor to every single taste bud, then Grant’s is your automatic choice. In terms of sales volume, the brand occupies the third position as it sold 4.5 million cases annually at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

Introduced by William Grant and Sons as a Scotch brand of blended whiskey GRANT’s has seen an admirable growth in recent years. This family-owned business is highly popular in Poland, the United Kingdom, and France with product availability in more than one hundred and eighty countries.

The company has revamped several product ranges, for example, Family Reserve has been renamed as Triple Wood and rum-finished and peated variants have been introduced in its portfolio. In the year 2002, both the label and bottle was also updated to meet the demands of changing society.

4) CHIVAS REGAL

CHIVAS REGAL is simply heaven sent for actual Scotch drinkers because of its sensational flavor. At the end of the financial year 2017, the luxury Scotch brand recorded annual sales figures of 4.4 million cases.

CHIVAS REGAL was first introduced in the year 1801 by Chivas Brothers and is considered one of the finest premium brands in the world. In a major coup in the year 1950, the company acquired Strathisla Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland. The product line of CHIVAS REGAL includes Chivas Regal The Icon, The Chivas Brother’s Blend, Chivas Regal 18 and its recent innovations include Chivas Regal XV and blended malt Chivas Regal Ultis.

The brand has sponsored The Asian Awards Outstanding Achievement related to sports category. It was awarded Double Gold Medals for Chivas Regal 25 year, 21 year and 18-year whiskeys in the year 2013 at San Francisco World Spirits Competition.

5) J&B

J&B offers pleasurable experience and well-balanced palate with more than forty individual whiskeys. It ranks at fifth position in the world in terms of annual sales volume which has been posted at 3.3 million cases at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

J&B is associated with distillation and manufacturing process of wine and liquors. It was founded in the year 1749 and currently is a subsidiary of its parent company Diageo Plc. The company serves in more than forty-nine countries of the world via headquarters base at London in the United Kingdom.

J&B is most popular for creating its house whiskey titled J&B Rare, which has been hailed as one of the best-blended Scotch whiskey and is ranked at fifth position in the world.

6) WILLIAM LAWSON’S

WILLIAM LAWSON occupies the sixth position in the world as one of the bestselling Scotch whiskey brands with an annual sales volume of 3.04 million cases at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

This highly popular brand is owned by its parent company Bacardi since the year 1993. Its sales figures have risen in recent years and it is one of the most preferred drinks in Russia, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, and France.

WILLIAM LAWSON is a classic rounded blend with medium-bodied and sweet flavor. The product portfolio of this unique Scotch whiskey brand includes Finest Blend, 13-year-old Super Spiced and Bourbon-Cask-Finished whiskey and 12-year-old Scottish Gold.

7) WILLIAM PEEL

 

WILLIAM PEEL is one of the most consistent Scotch brands in the world showing a solid growth as it occupies the seventh position in terms of annual sales volume at 3.03 annual cases sold by the end of the fiscal year 2017.

WILLIAM PEEL is owned by its parent company Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits, which in itself is part of Belvedere Group. It has a strong product following in several countries of the world occupying the topmost position in France.

WILLIAM PEEL blended whiskey products are available in the market in expressions like Double Maturation, Original, Honey Flavour, and Coffee-flavoured liqueur.

8) DEWAR’S

DEWAR’S is a Scotch brand of quality-blended whiskey synonymous with sophistication and demands appreciation in terms of another glass. Its strong performance has taken it to the eighth position in the world in terms of annual sales volume at 2.5 million cases at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

DEWAR’S was introduced in the year 1846 by its creator John Dewar and is currently owned by its parent company Bacardi. Its distillery is located in Aberfeldy in Scotland. One of its most successful blended Scotch whiskey is White Label, created in the year 1899, which is a full-bodied Scotch with a rich palate, distinguishing flavors, and subtle smokiness.

Innovative promotional policies and advertising have taken the brand far and wide. DEWAR’S has the distinction of being awarded a record number of awards in the blended Scotch whiskey category with more than five hundred medals earned in the global arena.

9) LABEL 5

LABEL 5 is an authentic blended Scotch whiskey that is an innovative amalgamation of finest malt and grain whiskey. This exceptional product is fully matured in oak casks and distilled and aged in Scotland. It is a well-balanced blend and light-bodied with a pale gold color and a combination of distinct flavors.

 LABEL 5 occupies a prominent position in the world of Scotch whiskeys as it continues to strengthen its position at number nine with recorded annual sales figures of 2.5 million cases at the end of the fiscal year 2017.

LABEL 5 is owned by its parent company Glen Turner Company and is currently available in more than one hundred countries. Its product portfolio includes LABEL 5 Classic Black, Extra Rare 18-Year-Old, Extra Premium 12-Year-Old, Gold Heritage and Reserve No 55.

10) BELL’S

Blended Scotch whiskey from BELL’S has a rich heritage and the reputation of being one of the finest products of Scotland because of its versatile flavor and typical ingredients.

The popular Scotch brand BELL’S was first introduced in the year 1851 by its creator Arthur Bell and currently it is a subsidiary of its parent company Diageo. It has the distinction of being the highest seller in terms of annual sales volume in the United Kingdom. Other important markets are Brazil, Spain, and South Africa.

The brand’s popular product portfolio includes BELL’S Original along with BELL’S EXTRA SPECIAL and BELL’S 8-YEAR-OLD.

11) PASSPORT BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY

During the 1960s, a blend recipe was developed by blender Jimmy Lang that was introduced in the consumer market as PASSPORT BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY. It is a blend of highland malts and sweet lowland lighter whiskey made at Speyside distillery of Seagram’s.

The Scotch whiskey has a gold-amber appearance when poured in a glass with the sweetness of honey and traces of woody tinge. The products are enormously popular in several countries like Poland, India, UAE, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, Pakistan and Brazil.

PASSPORT BLENDED SCOTCH WHISKY is owned by its parent company Pernod Ricard and is exported from Scotland through Seagram Distillers, PLC.

12) BUCHANNAN’S

BUCHANNAN’S is an iconic brand known worldwide for its refined, smooth and light flavor. It is one of the most in-demand products in countries like Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and the United States.

BUCHANNAN’S is a premium Scotch brand that was first introduced in the year 1879 by James Buchannan and currently is owned by its parent company Diageo. Its product portfolio includes variants like Master, Red Seal, Special Reserve 18 and De Luxe 12.

In the year 1898, the company was offered the Royal Warrant in order to supply its whiskey to the Royal Household including Prince of Wales and Queen Victoria. The brand has been awarded several medals like the 18-Year-Old has received a double gold, a silver and three gold medals in San Francisco World Spirits Competition during 2005-2010.

13) WHITE HORSE

The WHITE HORSE is a historic brand of blended Scotch whiskey first produced in the year 1861 by James Logan Mackie and currently acts as a subsidiary of its parent company Diageo.

It has a unique and smooth taste which is created by blending clean malt, crisp grain, and earthy pit. This extraordinary and intriguing Scotch is a perfect blend of forty whiskeys selected from Islay, Lowlands, and Highlands.

The product portfolio of WHITE HORSE includes several items like WHITE HORSE 8-Year-Old Fine Old Scotch Whiskey, WHITE HORSE 12-Year-Old Scotch Whisky, and WHITE HORSE 12-Year-Old Extra Fine.

14) CLAN CAMPBELL

CLAN CAMPBELL is a premium and one of the fastest growing Scotch brands in the world of blended whiskey that have a worldwide market like the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain.

 The product was introduced in consumer markets in the year 1976 and the successful brand is currently owned by its parent company Pernod Ricard. In the year 2015, it became the number one brand in France.

CLAN CAMPBELL is renowned for its unique flavor and taste and is blended from finest malt and grain whiskeys. Its product portfolio includes CLAN CAMPBELL 8-Year-Old Malt Scotch, CLAN CAMPBELL 13-Year-Old Scotch, and Legendary 18-Year-Old Scotch.

15) TEACHER’S HIGHLAND CREAM

TEACHER’S HIGHLAND CREAM is a blended Scotch of full flavors that was first introduced in the year 1884. It is marketed by Beam Suntory, a subsidiary of its parent company Suntory Holdings of Japan.

TEACHER’S HIGHLAND CREAM occupies the second position as the best-selling brand of Scotch whiskey in the United Kingdom and has increased its export to nearly one hundred and fifty countries with India and United States as two of its best-developed markets.

The products are manufactured at Ardmore distillery at Glasgow in Scotland. It is notable for use of peaty malt whiskey and 45% malt content that creates a distinctive and different blend. The product portfolio of TEACHER’S includes Highland Cream, TEACHER’S Single Malt, and 25-Year-Old Blend.

16) SIR EDWARD’S

If you are looking for a full-flavored authentic Scotch brand of blended whiskey then SIR EDWARD’s is the right choice. It offers a unique and intense experience of drinking a glorious spirit by creating a perfect blend of malt and grain whiskeys.

SIR EDWARD’S is owned by The Glen Turner Company, which was founded by La Martiniquaise, a French origin Group to handle its Scotch whiskey operations.

SIR EDWARD’S is a refined blended whiskey made with finest malt and grains whiskey, woody aroma and round clean flavor. It is matured in specially built oak casks that help in creating a perfect blend. The brand has been the recipient of recognition and awards and was awarded a silver medal during the San Francisco Spirits Competition.

17) 100 PIPERS

100 PIPERS was first introduced in the year 1949 and is currently owned by its parent company Pernod Ricard. It has the distinction of being ranked at the seventh-largest position in the world in terms of blended Scotch, and no 1 and no 2 in terms of standard whiskey in Thailand and Asia respectively.

The products are bottled in Scotland and India with major exports includes places like South America, Spain, Australia, Venezuela, and India. Its product portfolio includes Seagram’s 100 PIPERS Deluxe Whisky and Seagram’s 100 PIPERS 12-Year-Old Whisky.

100 PIPERS has been a recipient of several awards and recognition like a gold medal at The Asian Spirits Masters 2014.

18) BLACK & WHITE

BLACK & WHITE has maintained its position in the global market with its high annual sales figures of 2.3m cases at the end of the fiscal year 2017. Its overseas product market includes places like the United Kingdom, Brazil, Venezuela, India, Mexico, and France.

This blended Scotch brand was first produced by James Buchannan & Co Ltd and currently, it is owned by its parent company Diageo.

BLACK & WHITE is an iconic brand of the classic blend made from finest grain and malt whiskeys of Scotland. Its rise in recent years has been phenomenal because of aggressive advertisement via sponsorship deals and ad campaigns.

19) GRAND OLD PARR

GRAND OLD PARR is a Scotch brand of blended whiskey that was introduced by Gleenless Brothers Samuel and James in the consumer market in the year 1909. Currently, it is distributed, distilled and owned by its parent company Diageo.

GRAND OLD PARR has extended its product reach to several countries like the United States of America, South America, Colombia, Mexico, and Japan. It is a premium brand with premium pricing and is well-known for its round and dimpled bottle designs and gold cardboard box packaging.

The product portfolio includes 12-Year-Old titled GRAND OLD PARR, 18-Year-Old titled OLD PARR SUPERIOR and 15-Year-Old titled OLD PARR. This deluxe blend has a balanced palate and is available in a brown and square glass bottle.

20) VAT 69

VAT 69 is a Scotch brand of whiskey that was introduced in the consumer market in the year 1882 by William Sanderson & Son Limited. Currently, it is owned by its parent company Diageo.

VAT 69 is a blend of forty grain and malt whiskeys and its product portfolio includes 700 ml VAT 69 Fine Scotch Whisky, The Antiquary De Luxe Old Scotch Whisky 12 Years Old, Glenesk Single Malt Highland Scotch 12 Years Old, VAT 69 Reserve de Luxe Scotch Whisky and VAT 69 Finest Scotch Whisky.

This perfect blend is smooth with a balanced spirit, unique flavor and woody finish. Its key markets are India, Spain, Australia, and Venezuela.