Scottish Whisky Entrepreneur Acquires Legendary Edinburgh Whisky Retailer
Iain McClune, a Scottish whisky and spirits entrepreneur, fanatic, and former Royal Mile Whiskies worker, has agreed the acquisition of Scotland’s main unbiased specialist whisky enterprise, Royal Mile Whiskies.
Royal Mile Whiskies sits below the Dormant Distillery Firm (DDC) alongside Drinkmonger and The Cigar Field. They’ll all be retained, owned and operated in Scotland as a part of the deal.
McClune, who labored at Royal Mile Whiskies for practically a decade, turns into the second ex-employee to return as proprietor of the enterprise. The acquisition will probably be made via Classic Saga, McClune’s funding firm which incorporates Whisky Auctioneer, Wine Auctioneer, Rum Auctioneer and Vibrant Spirits.
Keir Sword, founding father of DDC, commented: “I’m delighted to go the enterprise over to Iain who as a former worker shares my affection for the enterprise and understands the significance of our unbelievable staff of drinks fans. As a former worker who myself returned to purchase Royal Mile Whiskies it’s tremendously satisfying to go the baton on to one among our personal, who shares my imaginative and prescient for the enterprise and I belief to hold on our values.
“The actual fact the enterprise retains its unbiased spirit however on the identical time positive factors the backing and assist of the equally enthusiastic and gifted staff at Classic Saga, makes it a really thrilling time for DDC.
“They inherit not solely the great employees, however a really supportive bunch of suppliers and dependable prospects to all of whom I ship my large thanks for his or her contribution over the previous quarter century. I want Iain, Arthur and the entire staff my highest for a vivid future, and shall proceed to cheer you all on from the sidelines.”
As a part of Classic Saga, DDC will proceed to function independently as its personal entity, and in addition independently from different companies throughout the group. It would profit from Classic Saga’s information, experience, relationships and popularity which is able to assist its continued progress. Arthur Motley, who has labored alongside Keir Sword for over 20 years, will turn into Managing Director of DDC.
Iain McClune, founding father of Classic Saga, mentioned: “I echo Keir’s values and perceive his imaginative and prescient for the way forward for the Dormant Distillery Firm. The staff at DDC is what makes it so distinctive and I’m excited to be part of it once more.
“Classic Saga and DDC are each unbiased Scottish firms with the identical knowledge-centric method and people-first tradition, with dedicated and passionate workers who contribute massively to the success of the companies.
“Thrilling occasions are forward and I’m notably happy to be inheriting such an excellent staff as they are going to be essential to the continued success and future progress of the DDC manufacturers. Beneath Keir’s tenure, Royal Mile Whiskies has turn into recognised as one of many nice unbiased UK whisky retailers and this popularity is precisely what we stay up for constructing with all at DDC.”
Dave Broom, award successful drinks author, commented: “Over the previous 25 years Royal Mile Whiskies has been an exemplar of an excellent drinks retail enterprise. It has developed over time, pioneering new avenues, however the secret to its success is it’s a enterprise run by individuals who put the client first. They haven’t simply offered whisky, they’ve educated, entertained, and suggested about it – and different spirits – as a result of they care deeply about what they’re promoting.
“Whereas that is the top of an period, I’m delighted the agency will stay unbiased and, importantly, with Iain as the brand new proprietor, that it’s staying in Scottish palms. I want Keir all the most effective in his future ventures, however know that with Arthur on the helm that persevering with success will probably be assured.”
About Dormant Distillery Firm Ltd
Keir Sword began the unbiased bottling enterprise DDC Ltd in 1997 however his focus for the enterprise quickly modified when he had the chance to purchase his former employer, Royal Mile Whiskies. Royal Mile Whiskies was established in 1991, nevertheless, it was in 1997 when Keir Sword, a returning former worker, bought the store that it developed into one of many world’s most revered specialist whisky retailers. Keir added The Cigar Field to the portfolio in 1999, adopted by rmw.com in 2000, which made the corporate one of many very first to retail whisky on-line. As gross sales of ‘different’ spirits had grown steadily, the Drinkmonger model was added in 2011 with the opening of a retail store in Pitlochry, Highland Perthshire after which Bruntsfield, Edinburgh later the identical 12 months. The Royal Mile Whiskies Commerce division is seen because the pre-eminent wholesaler of specialist spirits into the Scottish bar commerce, with an accounts record of a number of the highest hospitality venues in Scotland and past. Royal Mile Whiskies’ worldwide popularity is basically attributable to its educated staff of whisky fans. Keir is a Grasp of the Quaich and is quickly to turn into a Liveryman of the Worshipful Firm of Distillers.
About Classic Saga Ltd
Iain McClune is the Founder and Managing Director of Classic Saga Ltd which is the holding firm of Whisky Auctioneer, Wine Auctioneer, Rum Auctioneer and Vibrant Spirits Lts. Previous to establishing Whisky Auctioneer, Iain was Supervisor at Royal Mile Whiskies Edinburgh, a number one unbiased conventional whisky specialist. He was listed as One to Watch in The Telegraph’s Most Bold Enterprise Leaders programme in 2020.
Whisky Auctioneer is the worldwide market chief and trusted authority on the shopping for and promoting of whisky and spirits at public sale. It has come to acclaim in recent times with file breaking auctions of a number of the world’s most coveted and collectible whiskies. Based in 2013 and headquartered in Perth, Scotland, Whisky Auctioneer utilises its experience and information mixed with its public sale platform to extend curiosity and fervour within the whisky and spirits neighborhood. Its industry-leading on-line platform connects sellers to a world community of consumers, giving passionate whisky lovers entry to essentially the most complete choice of uncommon whisky on-line.
In 2017, Wine Auctioneer was established providing the identical companies for mature and uncommon nice wines and in August 2019, Iain launched Rum Auctioneer, the primary devoted on-line public sale of its form. The creation of Wine Auctioneer and Rum Auctioneer was prompted by the excessive ranges of demand for getting and promoting these merchandise via Whisky Auctioneer. A easy, accessible, and devoted platform for promoting wine and rum on-line was lacking and we had been ideally positioned to supply an answer.
The central Scotland headquarters’ success paved the best way for growth into the EU, the place Whisky Auctioneer opened an workplace in Ratheim, Germany in 2020. In 2022, additional growth elevated capability to assist the whisky neighborhood inside the UK with the opening of a central London workplace.
