Whiskey Old Smuggler: history, overview of taste and types

1) History of the Old Smuggler brand
2) Specifics of production
3) Types of Old Smuggler

"The Old Smuggler", which is the name of one of the oldest whiskey brands, is positioned as a high-quality budget blend.

The original name of the drink was given in honor of the fearless Scottish distillers of the XVIII century, who secretly produced and delivered strong malt liquor to customers, despite the dangers and persecution by the authorities.

Today, Old Smuggler is sold in more than 20 countries, with the main markets being Belgium, the United States and Argentina.

History of the Old Smuggler brand

The first bottle of "smuggled" scotch was produced in 1835. The drink was made in the best Scottish traditions by mixing grain and malt spirits of 3 years of aging. An innovation was the use of sherry barrels for maturation. The unique invention was first tested by the creators of the brand - brothers George and James Stodart.

In 1887, the James & George Stodart Limited was sold to The Stirling Bonding Company.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Old Smuggler came to Argentina, where it instantly became popular. In 1947, due to import bans, locals tried to recreate their favorite product themselves, based on the original recipe and preserving the unique character of Scotch whiskey. The high quality of the resulting blend was confirmed by the SWA (Scotch Whisky Association) certificate.

Consumers also approved the drink: "Old Smuggler" has become the No. 1 brand in Argentina among blended whiskeys.

By the 70s, production volumes reached a record 4.5 million bottles per year.

Celebrities began to appear regularly in videos dedicated to the popular scotch. Among them were the best polo player Juan Carlos Garriott and the famous tennis player Guillermo Vilas.

Design "stars" were involved in the creation of billboards: artists Aniko Sabo and Julio Freire. Since 2006, the Old Smuggler brand has been owned by the Italian company Gruppo Campari.

Specifics of production

The blend consists of malt and grain spirits. The former is produced in Speyside, Scotland, and the latter in South America. The grain part includes barley, wheat and corn.
The drink is aged and bottled in Argentina. French and American oak barrels are used for maturation.