James Martin & Company Profile

James Martin & Co was the one-time producer of a popular eponymous range of blended whiskies, particularly successful in overseas markets. The Edinburgh-based whisky merchant was eventually acquired by Macdonald & Muir, the forerunner to the Glenmorangie Company, and continues to reside as a dormant subsidiary.

James Martin & Company History

James Martin, known as ‘Sparry’ to his acquaintances because of his prowess in the boxing ring, set up in business as a whisky merchant in Edinburgh during 1878. He had previously worked as a travelling salesman for Leith whisky merchant John H Bartram.

Martin developed lucrative export markets for his whiskies, and this area of activity gained greater importance when the firm was being run by his partner, Edward Macdonald, whose brother Daniel joined him in the firm after Martin’s death in 1899. Indeed, from 1933, Martin’s blends were among the top 10 premium brands in the US. The brands in question included James Martin’s VVO Gold Bar 8-year-old, James Martin’s De Luxe 12-year-old, James Martin’s Fine and Rare 20-year-old.

James Martin & Co Ltd was acquired by Glenmorangie brand owner Macdonald & Muir Ltd in 1912, and today, with the French luxury goods firm Louis Vuitton-Moët Hennessy (LVMH) owning Glenmorangie, the company remains a non-trading subsidiary, with a registered address at Glenmorangie’s Edinburgh headquarters.

After the purchase of Glenmorangie by LVMH in 2004, the James Martin brand of blended whiskies was discontinued.

Contact

Address
James Martin & Company Limited
The Cube
45 Leith Street
Edinburgh
EH1 3AT
United Kingdom
Map

See also

  • Ardbeg Ardbeg Ardbeg Distillery & brand

    Ardbeg

    Ardbeg is one of Islay's sweetest malts.

  • Glenmorangie Glenmorangie Glenmorangie Distillery & brand

    Glenmorangie

    French-owned site by the Dornoch Firth.

  • Bailie Nicol Jarvie Bailie Nicol Jarvie Bailie Nicol Jarvie Brand

    Bailie Nicol Jarvie

    A 20th century blend nurtured by Macdonald & Muir that was eventually withdrawn in 2014.

  • Douglas Macniven & Company Douglas Macniven & Company Douglas Macniven & Company Independent bottler

    Douglas Macniven & Company

    Subsidiary of The Glenmorangie Company Ltd that once bottled the notorious 80:20 blend.

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