Diageo

Maybe you have heard of Diageo when reading an article about whisky or saw it somewhere in an advertisement. But what is it?

Diageo plc, established in 1997, is a British multinational alcoholic beverages company with a London-based headquarters.  The company was formed by the merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan and the name of the company is composed of the Latin word ‘dies‘, meaning ‘day‘, and the Greek root ‘geo‘, meaning ‘world‘. The name is meant to suggest that the company gives pleasure everyday, everywhere.

Yearly, Diageo produces over 6.5 billion liters of its brands from more than 100 manufacturing sites in over 30 countries worldwide and had a global operating profit of GBP 2.2 billion in 2017.

Diageo is Scotland’s largest exporter of Scotch whisky and other spirits, with around 85% of the company’s production in Scotland – nearly 50 million cases annually – is exported overseas to over 180 countries. In Scotland alone, Diageo has 50 sites including 28 malt distilleries and 1 grain distillery.

The company produces beer, vodka, gin, scotch whisky, bourbon, rum, American and Canadian whiskies, tequila, schnapps, mixed drinks, liqueur and Rakı. When you hear the names of some of their brands, you will go a-ha!

Diageo’s brands include Johnnie Walker, Bailey’s, Smirnoff, Guinness, Lagavulin and Tanquarey. The company also holds a 37% share in Moët Hennessy, which owns the brands Moët & Chandon, Hennessy and Veuve Clicquot.

When we focus on Scotch whisky alone, Diageo’s brand portfolio includes Johnnie Walker, Buchanan’s, Cardhu, Justerini & Brook (J&B), Bell’s, Black & White, White Horse, Logan, Caol Ila, Vat 69, Oban, Talisker, Lagavulin, Black Dog, Glen Old, Glenkinchie, Dalwhinnie, Cragganmore, Singleton, Clynelish, Royal Lochnagar, Glen Elgin, Haig, Knockando, The Dimple Pinch, King George IV, Inchgower and Dailuaine.