Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd / Peter Russell House 2 Youngs Road East Mains Industrial Estate Broxburn EH52 5LY, UK
London Hill incredible smooth Gin
About Us
Honouring Tradition, Dedicated to Innovation
We are privileged enough to remain one of the most widely respected Scottish independent family firms in the spirits industry, with four generations of expertise, distilling, blending and bottling to our name.
Like a lot of successful family businesses, our story began with someone pouring heart and soul into something they believed passionately in. Our founder, Leonard Russell Snr, pushed at the very limits of his craft and quickly became known for making whisky to exacting standards. Of course, when you make whisky that good, you soon attract interest from those with a similar appreciation for the finer things in life.
80 years on, our family has grown, and today we have an enviable portfolio of much-loved world-class premium Scotch whisky, gin, and rum brands. Each may look and taste very different yet is crafted with the same undeniable passion and commitment to quality.
Our independence gives us freedom to make our own decisions. Whether that’s steadfastly respecting and honouring the unhurried traditions of the past, or fully embracing bold and innovative methods and exciting flavour combinations. We recognise that being unafraid of evolution is what will give us a place at the table for the next 80 years.
Our People
As a family-owned company, we are strong believers in looking after our people. After all, everyone should have a workplace that they can call home.
Diverse talents, like-minded beliefs and a shared passion
At the heart of our brands, products and experiences, are our people. We all have stories. They make us who we are. They are our past, our present and our future. Ours humbly begins with family, following four generations of passion for craftsmanship, innovation and quality… without compromise.
Steeped in tradition and heritage, but unafraid of evolution, we are all kindred spirits thriving in a constantly evolving, exciting and passionate environment, driven by both individual and team successes. By providing a platform for personal growth, we enable our people to really make their mark.
As a family owned company, we are strong believers in looking after our people. After all, everyone should have a workplace that they can call home.
Family
We are a family of passionate people, crafting and evolving our brands and sensory experiences. Our doors are open to new ideas and to welcoming new talent, enabling us to co-create a successful future together where everyone and every idea is valued.
Craftsmanship
We use our generations of diversity, experience, skill and knowledge to ensure the highest quality craftsmanship shines out across all of our spirits in terms of our brands, people and experiences. Putting quality and service first… it’s what we pride ourselves on.
Innovation
The only barriers are the ones we put up. Our creativity, our independence of will and thought, means we can find a way where others believe there is none to help create something amazing.
“We have a distinguished history behind us and an exciting future ahead.”
Leonard Russell – Managing Director
London Hill Gin
London Hill is an incredibly smooth and refined award winning gin with elegant citrus notes from the addition of lemon and sweet orange peel.
A subtle blend of select botanicals sourced from all over the world: Juniper berries from Italy and the Balkans, Bulgarian coriander, cassia bark from China, Madagascan cinnamon, angelica Root from Northern France and Belgium, as well as orris root and liquorice from Italy.
Awards
INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS CHALLENGE – SILVER
London Hill incredible smooth Gin
WORLD GIN AWARDS -SILVER
London Hill incredible smooth Gin
The London Hill Range
London Dry
A subtle blend of select botanicals sourced from all over the world: Juniper berries from Italy and the Balkans, Bulgarian coriander, cassia bark from China, Madagascan cinnamon, angelica Root from Northern France and Belgium, as well as orris root and liquorice from Italy.
Premium Pink Gin
London Hill Premium Pink Gin is made to a traditional recipe, in a copper pot still called ‘Jenny’, from a blend of Juniper berries, Angelica root, coriander seeds and strawberries. The result is an enticing balance of classic botanical notes, blended perfectly with the warming aromas of spice, fresh pine and sweet strawberries to create a supremely smooth and flavoursome gin.
COMPANY HISTORY
1933: THE BEGINNING
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 1, 1933. Ian Macleod & Company Ltd was established. Leonard Russell Senior founded his own whisky broking company in 1936. He died in 1956.
1963: A MOMENTOUS DECISION
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1963. The Russell family acquired Ian Macleod & Co Ltd. Peter Russell was Managing Director.
1963: ISLE OF SKYE
WEDNESDAY, MAY 1, 1963. Acquisition of Isle of Skye blended Scotch whisky. Made from a secret family recipe rich in island tradition.
1964: FAMILY & WHISKY BOND
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1, 1964. David Russell, Peter’s younger brother joined the company, retiring in 2000.
1968: KING ROBERT
FRIDAY, MARCH 1, 1968. Acquisition of the King Robert range of spirits. This consistent and complex blend would go on to sell in excess of 500,000 cases per year and win an IWSC Best Blended Scotch Whisky.
1984: BROXBURN BOTTLERS
TUESDAY, MAY 1, 1984. Ian Macleod & Co Ltd and J & G Grant set up a joint venture bottling operation called Broxburn Bottlers.
1989: LEONARD RUSSELL
JANUARY 1, 1989. Leonard Russell, Peter’s son, joined the company as Business Development Manager.
1990: LONDON HILL
SEPTEMBER 1, 1990. Acquisition of London Hill Gin, made at one of England’s foremost gin distillers – the Langley Distillery since 1785.
1993: LEONARD RUSSELL
JANUARY 1, 1993. Leonard Russell is appointed Marketing Director.
1996: WATSON’S RUM
MAY 1, 1996. Acquisition of Watson’s Demerara and Watson’s Trawler rums, renowned for their smoothness and quality. Demerara is exclusively blended in Guyana, and Trawler is a blend of rums from Barbados and Guyana.
2000: ONWARDS & UPWARDS
FEBRUARY 1, 2000. Peter Russell was appointed company Chairman, and Leonard Russell Managing Director.
2003: GLENGOYNE DISTILLERY AND THE LANGS BRANDS
APRIL 1, 2003. Ian Macleod & Co Ltd changed its name to Ian Macleod Distillers Ltd following the acquisition of Glengoyne Distillery and the Langs brands.
2006: SMOKEHEAD
JANUARY 1, 2006. Smokehead Islay Malt was launched. Every family has a rebel and this one breaks all the rules.
2011: TAMDHU
JUNE 1, 2011. Acquisition of Tamdhu Distillery. This exceptional Speyside Single Malt Whisky is matured in only the finest Oloroso sherry casks.
2013: TAMDHU RE-LAUNCH
MAY 1, 2013. Official re-launch of Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky at the Speyside Whisky Festival.
2016: SPENCERFIELD SPIRITS
SEPTEMBER 1, 2016. Acquisition of Spencerfield Spirits including Edinburgh Gin, Pig’s Nose, Sheep Dip and Feathery whiskies.
2017: ROSEBANK REBORN
OCTOBER 1, 2017. Acquisition of Rosebank Distillery, one of Scotland’s most cherished distilleries and most sought-after single malts in the world. An extraordinary opportunity to bring back to life an iconic distillery and quintessential Lowland single malt.
2018: EDINBURGH GIN READY TO DRINK RANGE LAUNCHES
APRIL 24, 2018. The new ready-to-serve cans are a refreshing and convenient way to enjoy Edinburgh Gin either at home, picnics, festivals, barbecues and more.
2019: ROSEBANK – THE REVIVAL
Work begins on the crumbling old distillery to prevent it becoming a historical footnote. Our aim is to revive the distillery once Falkirk’s beating heart, bringing jobs and tourism back to the town.
2020: FIRST IAN MACLEOD BOTTLING OF ROSEBANK
October sees the launch of Rosebank 30-Year-Old Release One, a vintage laid down in 1990. It is eagerly awaited and thanks to Rosebank fans it sells out in record time.
2021: EDINBURGH GIN & PHOEBE WALLER-BRIDGE
Edinburgh Gin launches an exclusive limited-edition in partnership with Phoebe Waller-Bridge telling the inside story of Fleabag. All profits go to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe to fund the arts’ recovery for 2022.
