William Grant & Sons buys Drambuie brand Published duration 8 September 2014

image copyright Drambuie image caption The recipe for Drambuie is reputed to date back to 1745

Scottish distiller William Grant & Sons has added the Drambuie brand to its portfolio after buying the company behind the whisky liqueur.

William Grant, whose brands include Glenfiddich, Grant's and Hendrick's gin, bought Edinburgh-based Drambuie Liqueur Company for an undisclosed sum.

The distiller said Drambuie was "a natural fit" for its portfolio.

Drambuie is a blend of whisky, spices and heather honey, whose recipe is said to date back to 1745.

William Grant chief executive Stella David said: "We have a passion and a reputation for nurturing and building brands.

"Drambuie is a natural fit for our portfolio, it has a very rich history and a great story to tell and we are delighted to be in a position to start to re-engage with existing drinkers and to connect the brand with an entirely new generation of consumers."