Scottish liqueur brand Drambuie is to be sold by the MacKinnon family who have owned it for exactly 100 years, and who are reported to be ready to part with the iconic brand at a time when demand for ‘heritage’ brands is at its height – and whisky-based cocktails are also enjoying a boom.
It seems obvious that the major global drinks companies such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard will be taking a careful look – also Suntory. The market value of £100 million would not be a deterrent, but will an auction develop?
No doubt there will be pressure exerted to retain production in Scotland, but this would best be achieved by a new Scottish owner: step forward William Grant & Sons?