Twelve Stone Flagon Whisky / Baron’s Select Family History Time Line.
- 1768 – 1842, Ross & Cameron Usquaebach
- 1842 – 1972, William Grigor & Sons Usquaebach
- 1972 – 2002, Twelve Stone Flagon Whisky LLC & Baron’s Select Usquaebach Distilled, Blended & Bottled by Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd.
- 2002 – Present, Baron’s Select Ultra Premium Blended Scotch Whisky Stone Flagon Whisky Distilled, Blended & Bottled by Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd/Hunter Laing & Co. Ltd.
- 2015 – present 18 year old single malt Scotch distilled, blended, and bottled by Douglas Laing & Co. Ltd/ Hunter/Laing & Co
- 2016 – present 40 year old Cognac Single Estate Distilled and bottled by Chate Belle-Vue
The year is 1768 King George III is in the eight year of his reign and the American Revolution is still eight years away. King Louis XV is in the fifty-forth year of his reign, and the French Revolution is still twenty one years away. In the Far East, the Tokugawa Shoguns are ruling a feudal Japanese nation. On March 28th of the same year Mr. James Christie, in the second year of his highly successful auction business, sold two quarts of Usquaebach as lot 13 in his auction on behalf of a Mr. Wilson “Innkeeper and Farmer at the White Hart Hotel and Post Office, Peterfield, Hampshire England.” So began the written tradition of Usquaebach nearly 250 years ago making this exclusive, ultra-premium Scotch whisky the oldest brand linage.
Since its inception hundreds of years earlier Scotch whisky was so loved and reserved by the people of Scotland that they called it Usquaebach. Gaelic for ” Water Of Life” and the original word from which whisky was derived. Usquaebach was subsequently immortalized in 1791 by Robert Burns in his world renonned poem “Tam O’ Shater”: “Wi Usquaebach, we’ll face the devil.”
Over its long and celebrated history Usquaebach has been the epitome of quality, prestige, and exclusivity in its industry.
Usquaebach was produced by the Scottish firm Ross & Cameron from 1768-1842 as a single malt whisky. In 1842 Usquaebach was acquired by William Grigor & Sons and became a vatted Scotch whisky, which is a blend of single malts. Then, in 1904, Mr. Grigor added a small portion of grain whisky, making Usquaebach an exquisitely smooth blend of 85% malt whisky and 15% grain whisky.
The Grigor family first registered the Usquaebach trademark in England on August 3, 1876 and in the years since, Usquaebach has established a long history as a prestigious Scotch whisky exclusively reserved for commerical and royal aristocrats in Scotland, England and selected European countries. It was always produced in very limited quantities to ensure maximum quality control.
In 1969 The Usquaebach legacy was thrust into the Twentieth Century. That year, Stanley J. Stankiwicz, the “Scotch Baron”, founder and president of Twelve Stone Flagons Ltd., and until his untimely passing in November 2001, had been the proud owner and producer of Usquaebach and other Fine Whiskies. The Scotch Baron was regarded as one of the world’s most knowledgable individuals on the subject of Scotch Whiskey. Stanley J. Stankiwicz and Family had exceded their initial goals in making Usquaebach and similar Ultra Brand Whiskies available worldwide to discriminating consumers. During this time the “Scotch Baron”, in concert with Douglas Laing Blenders/Distiller’s , developed A New Ultra Deluxe Scotch Line- “Baron’s Select”. This 40th Year Anniversary Limited Edition 14 Karat Flagon represents the Scotch Industries “Best of the Best Series”!.
Traditionally, the Scotch industry has been characterized by predictable conservatism. However Twelve Stone Flagons, Ltd. has energized this industry with creative concepts, packaging and marketing, which have established industry standards that others have now followed for nearly the last half century. Stone Flagon Whisky Family of products reflects a variety of styles while always maintaining an image of prestige and quality of carrying “family of tradition”.
What a better way to cradle the world’s finest Ultra-Premium Scotch Whisky!
If you haven’t “experienced” Baron’s Select’s 40th Anniversary 14 karat Gold Flagon Limited Edition’s taste you haven’t experienced Scotch Whisky at it’s “very best”!.