The Maker Bunnahabhain is one of the great Islay distilleries. Founded in 1881 on the shores of the Sound of Islay overlooking Jura, Bunnahabhain (meaning ‘mouth of the river’) has its roots in the original Islay Distillery Company. For decades the distillery was cut off from the rest of the island, with the only way in and out being by sea – hence the image of a helmsman which can still be found on the distillery logo. During those years many distillery workers lived on site

The Maker Douglas Laing was established in 1948 on the back of the post Second World War whisky boom. At the time the story goes that Fred Douglas Laing (presumably Fred wasn't considered a sufficiently whiskish name) launched the business with a few casks and the rights to use the name of then well known blended scotch King of Scots. Over the decades since the company has passed to his son, Fred Jr, and built its reputation off the back of a wide range of trademarked blends