Our history begins in the long and proud reign of Queen Victoria in the small crofters village of Torphins near Aberdeen, in the north east of Scotland. Three sons were born to a local shoemaker James Graham, their names; Charles, David and Gordon. As was the norm during this time, once of age, the three left the family home for the booming industrial port of Aberdeen to seek work.

Being a port Aberdeen was teeming with imports from around the world, with tea being shipped in from Ceylon and China a busy trade had sprung up in blending. It was in this thriving industry the three brothers first learned and built their business. The first Graham offices were ambitiously opened in the heart of Aberdeen’s commercial quarter on Market Street.

Over time, and among friends, the brothers became known for blending another fine drink, this one rather more potent. Encouraged by support from those who had experienced the fruits of their labours the Grahams decided to launch a new product. Black Bottle blended Scotch Whisky.

Although they had kept Black Bottle very much as a sideline the Graham brothers decided to turn their back on the tea industry that had thus far built them up as a respected family in Aberdeen. Moving from Market Street to bonded warehouses in Regent Street they began the full time business of Whisky blending.

Gordon Graham, the eldest brother and master blender, died before seeing the success that his younger brothers reaped from Black Bottle. It is to his unique taste recipe and vision that Black Bottle’s popularity can be attributed.

Paterson’s, Scotland’s highest profile blending company collapses bringing to an abrupt halt the soaring whisky boom. This and the risks associated with expansion are credited as the reasons why the Graham brothers never invested in a distillery of their own.

Following the outbreak of the Great War the Grahams’ unique German-made black bottle needed to be replaced by a green glass version. Despite this change the bottle retained, and still retains, its unique ‘pot still’ shape.

David Graham, the firm’s business head, died suddenly in his chair, at the helm of the business to the end. This left Black Bottle in the charge of Charles Innes Graham. As the salesman of the business Charles had become known as ‘The Whiskyman’ and would travel from town to town supplying Black Bottle from his car.

After seven years in charge Charles Innes Graham, the last of the three founding brothers, passed away. Under him the business had thrived securing a loyal following in Scotland. Early tales are told of seamen’s wives packing the distinct Black Bottle for their husbands to keep them warm whilst away at sea. Charles’ wife, Ann Jane Graham, took the helm and the reign of the indominatable ‘Granny’ Graham began.

Realising there is no male heir to the Black Bottle business Granny Graham persuades her nephew Graham Horne to change his name by deed poll to Graham Charles Innes Graham following the death of his mother.

The commencement of the second World War saw Black Bottle as a thriving concern. Sales were coming as far away as Scandanavia and with the expansion into rum the business moved to bigger premises at number 31 and 33 Market Street.

Sadly tragedy strikes as the new Market Street offices burn down taking with them the original recipes and all company records and history.

Gordon Graham, the last of the Graham family line to work for the company, now named Gordon Graham & Co, starts in the warehouse following in his family’s lineage of learning the company from the ground up.

A second tragedy as Granny Graham, who had done so much to keep the company going, finally passes on. She is remembered locally as a stern woman invariably dressed in black who insisted that all company matters were dealt with at her home, leading to long lines of tradesmen and company representatives entering and leaving the family home.

Partly due to the duties paid on Granny Graham’s death and partly due to the lack of knowledge of the true value of the stock held, Gordon Graham & Co lost its prized independence. The stock was sold off and the good name of Black Bottle was sold to Long John another spirit manufacturer. This sale sadly saw the end of the quality product that Black Bottle had become.

After years in the spirit wilderness as a drink to be drunk with a mixer as opposed to being savoured on its own, Black Bottle is bought by Allied Distilleries. This began a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of Black Bottle, returning it back to the fine dram it once was.

Black Bottle is finally restored to its former glory with an injection of modern Islay malts giving it back the chewy, malty taste that defined it over 100 years previously.

The original taste of Black Bottle is given a new and exciting depth with the addition of a 10 year old sibling. This deluxe blend recreates its forefather’s depth and character using malts not less than 10 years of age.

With its taste returned Black Bottle is reinvigorated with a smart new look that remembers the early bottles but shows the class of the whisky inside. Finally Black Bottle is back as the pillar of good taste the Graham’s began in 1881.