The family-owned company says Drambuie - a blend of aged scotch whisky, spices and heather honey - is a natural addition to its portfolio of premium brands including Glenfiddich and The Balvenie single malt scotch whiskies.

William Grant & Sons’ chief executive, Stella David said:  “We have a passion and a reputation for nurturing and building brands. Drambuie 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.”

Drambuie’s CEO, Michael Kennedy, said: “We are pleased to complete this process with William Grant & Sons, a company who holds true those family values which will help nurture Drambuie to begin its next chapter of growth.

“As part of the William Grant & Sons stable of brands, we believe that Drambuie can truly achieve its potential, as it will benefit from being part of a larger and more diverse organisation. I look forward to working with the William Grant & Sons’ team as we smoothly integrate the acquisition and help realise the benefits for both companies,” Kennedy says.

A family spokesperson for William Grant & Sons, added: "We have always been secret admirers of Drambuie. We are very grateful to the MacKinnon family for entrusting the future of this iconic brand to our family, and we will do our best to make them proud in the decades ahead."