Highland Distillers was founded in 1887 by the Robertson family. In 1970 Highland purchased Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd., producers of the Famous Grouse

The Famous Grouse

The Famous Grouse is a brand of blended Scotch whisky, first produced by Matthew Gloag & Son Ltd. in 1897, and now produced by The Edrington Group. The malt whiskies used in The Famous Grouse blend include The Glenrothes, Highland Park Single Malt and Macallan Single Malt. Its emblem is the Red...

 blended whisky and acquired The Macallan single malt Scotch

Single malt Scotch

Single Malt Scotch is whisky made in Scotland using a pot still distillation process at a single distillery, with malted barley as the only grain ingredient...

 producers in 1996. Highland also produced the Highland Park

Highland Park Single Malt

Highland Park Single Malt is a Scotch whisky distilled by Highland Park Distillery, Kirkwall in Orkney, the most northerly whisky distillery in Scotland, half a mile north of that at Scapa. Blackwood Distillery in Shetland presently produces only gin and vodka .Highland Park has performed well at...

 brand whisky. Highland Distillers was purchased by the Edrington Group in 1999. William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons Ltd. is an independent, family-owned Scottish company which distills Scotch whisky and other selected categories of spirits. It was established in 1887 by William Grant, and is now run by the descendants of the founder. It is the largest of the handful of Scotch whisky...

and the Edrington Group took Highland Distillers private in 2000.