Pattison's whisky
Encyclopedia
Pattison's Whisky
was a blended Scotch whisky produced by Pattison's Ltd. from 1896 until its bankruptcy in 1898. It is known for its role in the booming scotch whisky market of the late 19th century, and its instrumental role in the market's subsequent collapse.
wholesaler in Edinburgh
. Seeing an opportunity for much greater profits, they entered the business of blending whisky. Robert Pattison started in the whisky business by leasing the Teaninch Distillery
from 1850-1869. He formed a blending company of his own in 1887, and the company went public two years later in 1889. Around this time, the great phylloxera epidemic
devastated the vineyards of France
, significantly depleting the region's brandy
reserves. This lull in production allowed whisky producers to bring about huge market growth. It was in this boom environment that Pattison's took shape.
Walter G.G. Pattison and Robert P. Pattison, transitioned from the blending business to distilling and incorporated in 1896 as Pattison's Ltd. The company grew very rapidly, purchasing half of the Glenfarclas distillery, many shares in Aultmore-Glenlivet and Oban
distilleries, and the Ardgowan distillery. They even acquired a brewery in nearby Duddingston
.
The brothers were known for their extravagant spending in both their personal and professional lives. They employed a sales force of 150 men, many more than their much larger competitor Distillers Company Ltd.
Their advertising budget totaled over £60,000 in 1898, or what would today be nearly £4.3m in the U.K.
alone! In addition to their huge print advertising campaigns, they gave away 500 African Grey Parrot
s to vendors that were trained to repeat phrases like "Pattison's Whisky is best!" or "Buy Pattison's Whisky!"
and embezzlement
in 1901. After just an hour and a half the Pattisons were found guilty. Robert Pattison was jailed for 18 months and Walter nine.
was a blended Scotch whisky produced by Pattison's Ltd. from 1896 until its bankruptcy in 1898. It is known for its role in the booming scotch whisky market of the late 19th century, and its instrumental role in the market's subsequent collapse.
History
Pattison's Ltd. started out as a dairyDairy
A dairy is a business enterprise established for the harvesting of animal milk—mostly from cows or goats, but also from buffalo, sheep, horses or camels —for human consumption. A dairy is typically located on a dedicated dairy farm or section of a multi-purpose farm that is concerned...
wholesaler in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
. Seeing an opportunity for much greater profits, they entered the business of blending whisky. Robert Pattison started in the whisky business by leasing the Teaninch Distillery
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
from 1850-1869. He formed a blending company of his own in 1887, and the company went public two years later in 1889. Around this time, the great phylloxera epidemic
Phylloxera
Grape phylloxera ; originally described in France as Phylloxera vastatrix; equated to the previously described Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, Phylloxera vitifoliae; commonly just called phylloxera is a pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America...
devastated the vineyards of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, significantly depleting the region's brandy
Brandy
Brandy is a spirit produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35%–60% alcohol by volume and is typically taken as an after-dinner drink...
reserves. This lull in production allowed whisky producers to bring about huge market growth. It was in this boom environment that Pattison's took shape.
Walter G.G. Pattison and Robert P. Pattison, transitioned from the blending business to distilling and incorporated in 1896 as Pattison's Ltd. The company grew very rapidly, purchasing half of the Glenfarclas distillery, many shares in Aultmore-Glenlivet and Oban
Oban Distillery
Oban Distillery is a whisky distillery in the Scottish west coast port of Oban. It is one of the few distilleries to have been built, in 1794, before the actual town which sprung up later in the surrounding craggy harbor...
distilleries, and the Ardgowan distillery. They even acquired a brewery in nearby Duddingston
Duddingston
Duddingston is a former village in the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, next to Holyrood Park.-Origins and etymology:The estate wherein Duddingston Village now lies was first recorded in lands granted to the Abbot of Kelso Abbey by David I of Scotland between 1136–47, and is described as stretching...
.
The brothers were known for their extravagant spending in both their personal and professional lives. They employed a sales force of 150 men, many more than their much larger competitor Distillers Company Ltd.
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
Their advertising budget totaled over £60,000 in 1898, or what would today be nearly £4.3m in the U.K.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
alone! In addition to their huge print advertising campaigns, they gave away 500 African Grey Parrot
African Grey Parrot
The African Grey Parrot , also known as the Grey Parrot, is a medium-sized parrot found in the primary and secondary rainforest of West and Central Africa. Experts regard it as one of the most intelligent birds. They feed primarily on palm nuts, seeds, fruits, leafy matter, but have been observed...
s to vendors that were trained to repeat phrases like "Pattison's Whisky is best!" or "Buy Pattison's Whisky!"
Bankruptcy and Conviction
In 1899 the company began falling apart. DCL froze their account after an unpaid balance of £30,000. It was revealed that the company had massively inflated their profits through shoddy accounting practices and defaulted on several substantial debts. Among their many offenses was mixing cheap whisky with a small quantity of fine Scotch and labeling it "Fine old Glenlivet" to bolster their bottom line by nearly £27,000. The brothers were tried for four counts of fraudFraud
In criminal law, a fraud is an intentional deception made for personal gain or to damage another individual; the related adjective is fraudulent. The specific legal definition varies by legal jurisdiction. Fraud is a crime, and also a civil law violation...
and embezzlement
Embezzlement
Embezzlement is the act of dishonestly appropriating or secreting assets by one or more individuals to whom such assets have been entrusted....
in 1901. After just an hour and a half the Pattisons were found guilty. Robert Pattison was jailed for 18 months and Walter nine.