Overview
Chivas Brothers is a Scottish company that distills Scotch whisky. It is owned by Pernod Ricard since 2001. The company was founded in 1786, with its home being in the Strathisla distillery at Keith, Moray in Speyside, Scotland, and is the oldest continuously operating Highland distillery.
Pre-1823: prior to legalisation of whisky distillation
Brothers James and John Chivas, born in 1810 and 1814 respectively, were two of fourteen children born to Robert and Christian Chivas, living on a remote Strathythan farm in the Ellon Parish of Aberdeenshire. In 1836, aged 26 and 22 years, James and John decided to leave their poor rustic lifestyle in search of better prospects in Aberdeen, away. James became a partner in 1838. John began working at a wholesale footwear and apparel firm, DL Shirres and Co. This firm would be awarded distribution rights of Chivas Bros from 1860 to 1886, from around John Chivas' entry until James Chivas' death and again later. Edwards died in 1841, and Charles Stewart took over. In 1843, Stewart and Chivas was granted a Royal Warrant to supply goods to Queen Victoria.
In 1850, Stewart and Chivas was appointed Royal Grocer to the queen's mother, the Duchess of Kent, and many other Royal Warrants followed over the years. The huge advantage of getting a Royal Warrant was that upper class gentry followed royalty without a second thought, to be seen as both conformal and of cognizable status. This automatically resulted in a considerably increased footfall of the wealthy.
1823–1893: legalisation of whisky distillation and origins of whisky production
In Scotland, distilling whisky (uisge beatha in Gaelic) had been legalised in 1823, leading to a proliferation in the number of brands. Some were produced at 70–72% alcohol by volume (ABV), but the majority were at 60–65% ABV, imbibed after cutting with water. Vatting of whiskies within bond warehouses was legalised in 1853 by The Forbes-Mackenzie Act,
1893–present: post-Chivas family
The last Chivas family member involved in the business, Alexander, son of James, died in 1893. Chivas Brothers was purchased by Seagrams in 1949, Chivas would limp back nearly four decades later, when under Pernod Ricard, but rise rapidly thereafter to its leading position in the Asia Pacific area. In 1950, the firm bought Milton (Miltown) distillery, renaming it Strathisla, which is the brand's home in Keith to this day. Its product, Strathisla single malt, is a key malt component of the blend. Other expressions followed, like the Mizunara in 2014, The Icon in 2015 and the XV in 2018. In 2001, Pernod Ricard acquired Chivas Brothers. In 2015, Chivas Brothers opened the new Dalmunach distillery. In October 2023, Chivas Brothers unveiled plans to build a new carbon neutral distillery on Islay, expected to product peated single malt.
Whisky distilleries
Chivas Brothers operates many whisky distilleries in Scotland:
Single Malt
* Aberlour distilery * Allt-A-Bhainne distillery * Braeval distillery * Dalmunach distillery * Glenburgie distillery * Glen Keith distillery * The Glenlivet distillery * Glentauchers distillery * Longmorn distillery * Miltonduff distillery * Scapa distillery * Strathisla distillery
Grain
* Strathclyde distillery
Brands
Chivas Brothers beverage brands include: Scotch whisky: *Single malt Scotch whisky: Aberlour, Glen Keith, The Glenlivet, Longmorn, Scapa *Blended Scotch whisky: 100 Pipers, Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, Long John, Passport, Royal Salute, Something Special