WILLIAM LAWSON

**William Lawson’s** is a major blended Scotch whisky brand produced by John Dewar & Sons Ltd (a subsidiary of Bacardi Limited). It is known for its approachable, bold, fruity, and completely unpeated style, with a high malt content centered around spirit from the Macduff distillery (also known as Glen Deveron). The brand is positioned as an everyday, no-nonsense Scotch under the slogan “No Rules. Great Scotch.”

### History

The brand traces its roots to the mid-19th century. William Lawson, a Scottish immigrant who moved to Ireland, worked as an export manager at the Dublin-based blending and export firm E&J Burke (established around 1849). In 1889 the name “W Lawson & Co” and the label “Lawson’s Liqueur Whiskey” were registered. The brand later moved operations to Liverpool and, in the 1960s, to Coatbridge in Scotland.

In 1953, Clan Munro Whisky (part of Martini & Rossi) acquired the trademark and renamed it William Lawson’s to avoid confusion with other blends. In 1972, William Lawson Distillers Ltd purchased the Macduff distillery in Banffshire, which has remained the heart of the blend ever since. Bacardi acquired Martini & Rossi in 1993, bringing William Lawson’s into its portfolio. In 1998 Bacardi also acquired John Dewar & Sons from Diageo, and the brand has been managed under that company ever since.

Today William Lawson’s ranks among the world’s top-selling Scotch whiskies (historically the 6th largest by volume), with particularly strong markets in France, Portugal, Spain, Mexico, and other parts of Europe and Latin America.

### Style and Production

William Lawson’s is deliberately free of peat smoke. The core blend combines a high proportion of fruity, floral Speyside-style malt from Macduff with selected grain whiskies. The result is a sweet, medium-bodied whisky with notes of:

- Green apple, pear, and other fresh/juicy fruits  

- Toasted cereal and malt  

- Vanilla, toffee, caramel, and light oak  

- Subtle spice and creaminess  

It is typically matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and sherry casks and bottled at 40% ABV (with some variants at lower strength).

### Main Expressions

- **William Lawson’s Finest Blend** – The core, no-age-statement expression. Bright, fruity, and versatile; designed for both neat drinking and mixing (especially with cola, ginger ale, or apple juice).

- **William Lawson’s Scottish Gold 12 Year Old** – A richer, more mature expression with deeper vanilla, tropical fruit, nutty, and spiced notes.

- **William Lawson’s 13 Year Old** – A 12-year-old base given an extra year of finishing in heavily charred bourbon casks, adding extra sweetness and depth.

- **William Lawson’s Super Spiced** – A flavoured variant (around 35% ABV) infused with vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple, and apple notes, aimed at easy mixing and casual drinking.

### Brand Character

William Lawson’s deliberately rejects the more formal or “snobbish” image sometimes associated with Scotch. Its marketing emphasises accessibility, boldness, and freedom — “drink it your way.” The visual identity features a rugged Highlander character and the simple white wordmark logo with the tagline “No Rules. Great Scotch.”

In short, William Lawson’s is a high-volume, high-malt-content blended Scotch that prioritises fruit-forward flavour, smoothness, and everyday drinkability over complexity or traditional rituals.