Johnnie Walker
The story of Johnnie Walker's starts in 1819 with the sale
of the farm of Todriggs near Kilmarnock. This had been farmed for
generations by the Walker family, and the proceeds of the sale were
to set up in business the recently orphaned John Walker, aged 14.
This was done in 1820, when a shop dealing in groceries, wines and
spirits was set up for him near Kilmarnock Cross by his father's
trustees. The shop was in the recently built King Street, beside
the toll gate, at the bridge where the street crossed Kilmarnock
Water. John Walker was a hard working but shy man who belonged to
no clubs or societys and who's escape from work was a passion for
flowers. His shop was in a prime location near the toll gate where
all the traders entered the town. Gradually the business began to
concentrate more and more on the sale of wines and all kinds of
spirits, including whisky, but when John Walker
died the business was still a general grocers.
The rapid growth of the business began when John's son
Alexander bought out his mother Elizabeth and his brother Robert
and set up as 'John Walker & Sons' in 1865. Ten years later
larger premises were opened in Croft Street, and whisky blending
and bottling were dramatically expanded, mainly due to exports to
the colonies. Offices were opened in London, and soon became the
headquarters with branches in Australia, Canada, South Africa and
other countries. Alexander's sons George and Alexander joined the
management of the business which became a limited company in 1886.
When Alexander died three years later John Walker & Sons was
one of the largest Whisky operations in Scotland.
