Portrait of a man in formal attire, wearing a suit and vest, with a beard and a neutral background.

CELEBRATING
180 Years of
Dewar’s: A Legacy
Built on Quality

On May 15, 1846, John Dewar opened his wine and spirits business at 111 High Street, Perth, marking the formal beginning of what would become John Dewar & Sons Ltd. The shop announcement, placed in the Perthshire Advertiser, described a “large and very superior stock of wines, foreign and British spirits, porter, ales etc.,” as well as yeast for distillers.

As DEWAR’S marks its 180th anniversary, the archive reveals a story not of sudden success, but of experience patiently applied, quality consistently pursued, and change thoughtfully embraced.

Historic illustration of a multi-story whisky distillery building labeled 'John Dewar & Sons, Wine & Spirit Merchant' with pedestrians. - Check Content Hub for archivist-approved descriptions

Experience Before Enterprise

John Dewar did not arrive at this moment untested. By the time he set up on his own, he had spent nearly two decades in the drinks trade, having moved to Perth in 1828 to work as a cellarman for Alexander MacDonald before becoming a partner in MacDonald & Dewar in 1839.

This depth of experience explains why, when John established his own business at the age of 41, he did so with confidence, contacts, and a clear understanding of quality.

The opening of the shop coincided with a significant period of personal change. John had married Jane Gow in June 1845, and their first child, Janet, was born just weeks before the shop opened.

Historical portrait of a seated woman in a dark blue dress and a standing man in a dark coat holding a top hat.

Quality as a Guiding Principle

From its earliest days, the business was defined by a focus on quality. This principle became increasingly significant as the Scotch whisky industry evolved through the 19th century.
 
By the 1860s, John Dewar had become one of the early pioneers of blending, taking advantage of changing legislation and improved distilling practices. Company folklore indicates that his blends typically contained five or six different whiskies, often favouring local Highland distilleries.
 
Company stock lists show blended whiskies stored in cask under bond as an early form of marrying, including a record of a blended whisky remaining in cask for an extended period during John Dewar’s lifetime.

Room with shelves of whisky bottles, a large table with bottles and papers, and a ladder.

A Business Expands with the World

DEWAR’S growth was inseparable from wider technological change. In 1847, the first railway reached Perth, and by 1848 the city was directly connected to London, dramatically altering the movement of people, goods, and ideas.

By 1860, John Dewar had employed a traveling salesman to take his blends beyond Perth, supplying hotels and bars across Scotland. This expansion was made possible by developing rail and road networks, embedding DEWAR’S within a rapidly modernizing world.

Vintage portrait of a man in a suit and tie, with a mustache, framed in an oval with a label below.

A Legacy Established

When John Dewar died in January 1880, he left behind a thriving business, a reputation for quality, and an estate valued at £34,796, equivalent to more than £3.5 million today. The company passed into the hands of his wife Jane and son John Alexander Dewar, ensuring continuity of both family leadership and blending expertise.

By that point, the foundations of DEWAR’S global success were firmly laid.

Image disclaimer
Some historical images have been colorized to help bring these moments from our past to life.