Distillers Limited Company (DCL) Flashcards
When was DCL formed? And by whom?
DCL was formed in 1887 by merging six Lowland grain distilleries:
-Port Dundas (M Macfarlane)
-Carsebridge (John Bald & Co)
-Cameronbridge (Haig & Co)
-Glenochil (McNab Bros)
-Cambus (Robert Mowbray)
-Kirkliston (Stewart Kirkliston)
What was DCL’s strategy following the Pattinson Whisky Crisis of the 1890’s?
DCL took the opportunity to buy up many distresses assets including many distilleries in Scotland in the first 25 years of the 20th century. By 1914 they had declared themselves the “largest whisky distiller in the world.”
What were significant additions to DCL in 1925 & 1927?
Both John Walker & Sons and the recently consolidated Buchanan-Dewars joined DCL in 1925. Then in 1927 White Horse joined as well.
What were major historical obstacles that DCL needed to overcome?
World War I
Prohibition in the US
The Great Depression
How did DCL contribute to removing the Irish Whiskey Trade as competitors to Scotch Whiskey in the 1920’s?
By 1920’s DCL owned all but one of the major Irish Grain Distilleries, and closed them all by 1929.
What did DCL do to protect itself from World War II?
DCL produced industrial alcohol and other chemicals to aide the war effort.
Between the 1960;s and 1980’s how much market share did DCL lose in Scotland?
In the 1960’s DCL controlled about 75% of the Scotch Whisky market, by 1984 the company controlled only 16%. And this despite the fact that Johnnie Walker was the #1 selling Scotch Whisky in the world.
Who acquired DCL in 1986?
Guinness. In 1984 DCL fought off a takeover bid by the Arygle Group by courting a rival bid from Guinness. Guiness acquired DCL and combined it with Arthur Bell & Sons to form United Distillers.
Who did Guiness/DCL/United Distillers merge with in 1997 to form Diageo?
Grand Metropolitan
