Catto`s

James Catto — A Legendary Figure in the History of Scotch Whisky

James Catto is considered one of the first creators of blended Scotch whisky. After the invention of column stills for grain whisky production in the 1830s, the first blended Scotch whiskies appeared around 1860. At that time, James Catto owned a thriving grocery business in the heart of Aberdeen.

Aberdeen’s proximity to numerous distilleries in Speyside and the Highlands made it the perfect place to develop the art of whisky blending. James collected samples of local whiskies, carefully tasted, mixed, and measured them until he achieved the perfect blend.

In 1861, just a year after the creation of his first blends, James Catto launched his own blend under the name “James Catto’s Rare Old Scottish Highland Whisky.”