Founded in the first half of the 19th century, John Walker and Sons, makers of Johnnie Walker, are one of the longest-continuously running whisky-making companies in the world.

From humble beginnings as a grocer, the company grew through the 1800s until it sold some 100,000 gallons of blended whisky a year in the 1860s. The modern era began in 1908 when the flagship blend became known as Johnnie Walker, named after the company's founder.

Now a subsidiary of Diageo, the world's largest drinks company, John Walker and Sons continues to produce a wide range of whiskies, from the entry-level Red Label all the way up to the £12,000 a bottle John Walker & Sons Diamond Jubilee, released in 2012.