Whiskey William Peel (William Peel) – a blend of Scottish distillates, which are made and bottled in France. The drink is popular in its homeland and is presented on the shelves of every supermarket. The brand is not very popular in the UK, but it is considered one of the best-selling in the world. The brand belongs to one of the oldest French companies Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits.
Historical information
William Pitters International was founded in 1964 by entrepreneur Bernard Magre in the city of Lormont in the province of Bordeaux. At the beginning of his career, the businessman was not interested in winemaking. The alcohol industry attracted the attention of Magret only after moving to the United States, and in the first place was not the cultivation of grapes, but marketing and promotion of goods on the market.
The entrepreneur acquired his first winery at the age of 28. Whiskey William Peel was among the first brands that Magret began to promote in France. Scotch is based on almost two dozen malt and grain spirits from Highland, Speyside and Lowland distilleries. The recipe turned out to be successful, and the brand was in great demand on the domestic and international market.
The successes inspired Magre to expand the business. The entrepreneur became passionate about creating rare wines and bought wineries in Europe, America and Asia. Products under the Bernard Magrez brand have become recognizable all over the world thanks to the label with golden keys and the portrait of the founder. Over time, the Magre company has become one of the largest wine-making empires in the world.
Whiskey production ceased to be a priority for the businessman, so in 2005 he sold William Pitters to the French company Marie Brizard et Roger, founded back in 1755. New owners with tripled energy took up the promotion of William Peel in France, and soon the brand was at the top of the popularity rating in their homeland.
In 2006, the company became part of the Belvédère holding and was renamed Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits. The owners managed to obtain a GI (Geographical Indicator) certificate from the UK tax office, so whiskey blended in France is officially considered Scotch whiskey. This allows the company to supply its products to a huge number of outlets on the continent, including large supermarket chains. About 3 million boxes of William Peel are sold worldwide every year.
Awards:
- Sip Awards 2017, 2018 – gold medals;
- International Wine & Spirit Competition, 2017 – silver medal;
- International Spirits Challenge, 2017, 2018 – silver awards;
- San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2018 – bronze medal.
Interesting Facts
- William Peel is the son of a Scottish priest, appointed in 1930 by the Queen to the post of Governor General of Hong Kong. The statesman owned a small distillery, which he inherited from his father.
- The William Peel line includes whiskey-based liqueurs. The company offers customers three original flavors – honey, pepper-apple and coffee. Drinks are recommended for mixing in cocktails.
Characteristics of whiskey William Peel, 40%
A blend of distillates aged in oak barrels for at least three years. Malt spirits are obtained by double distillation, grain – by continuous distillation in distillation columns. An amber-colored drink with the aroma of malt and dried fruit. Whiskey has a soft and smooth taste with hints of raisins, apples, wood and spices. The finish is long and warm.
