Although Whyte & Mackay Distillers was founded in Glasgow in 1882, the company can trace its history back to 1844, when the firm of Allan and Poynter – which James Whyte managed – was founded. Soon after establishing their own company, James Whyte and Charles Mackay quickly launched their own proprietary blend, Whyte & Mackay Special.

Sales were largely export-driven to the US and Commonwealth until 1939, but after the war more effort went into building the brand in the UK. By 1982 Whyte & Mackay was the 7th largest Scotch brand in its home market with a 5% share, and is still the most popular Scotch blend in Glasgow and the West of Scotland.

The company has been a pioneer in marketing and gained a lot of publicity in the past for innovation. It was the first to use a bottle cap that also served as a handy measure, and in 1963 introduced the 40 fl oz bottle to the on-trade, a move which was quickly adopted by the rest of the industry.

Through numerous changes in corporate ownership since 1972, the brand has survived unscathed and has recently been revitalised with revised packaging and presentation under the auspices of Whyte & Mackay Master Blender Richard Paterson, whose name is now synonymous with the brand.