Our history

The first record of the Haig family — the oldest family of Scotch whisky distillers.

Arthur Guinness signs a 9,000-year lease on a disused property at St. James’s Gate, Dublin, and starts to brew ale.

John Walker opens a grocery business in Kilmarnock, Scotland, and starts blending whiskies — with great success.

Charles Tanqueray begins distilling in the Bloomsbury district of London.

Pyotr Smirnoff opens a distillery in Russia and begins making vodka using a revolutionary charcoal filtering process. Later Vladimir Smirnoff fled from Russia during the Revolution and re-established the brand in Europe in the early 1920s.

Crown Royal is created to celebrate the historic visit of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth to Canada.

Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur launches, widely regarded as the industry’s most successful new product launch ever.

Diageo is formed through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness.

Diageo sells food assets—including Burger King and Pillsbury—to focus on premium drinks.

Diageo acquires some of the Seagram spirits and wine business, which includes brands such as Captain Morgan and Crown Royal.

Diageo launches DRINKiQ to help consumers make more informed choices about drinking, including the decision not to drink.

Diageo completes the first stage acquisition of United Spirits Limited, becoming the major shareholder in India’s leading spirits company.

Diageo partners with Distill Ventures, an accelerator programme that offers alcohol entrepreneurs a route to cash investment, mentoring and access to expertise and funding.

Diageo acquires full global ownership and control of Tequila Don Julio, strengthening our position in the growing super premium and above tequila segments globally.

Diageo acquires Casamigos, the fastest growing super premium tequila in the US. Founded by Rande Gerber, George Clooney and Mike Meldma, Casamigos is made “by friends for friends.”

Diageo increases its stake in Chinese baijiu company Sichuan Shuijingfang to almost 70% and buys a majority stake in Seedlip, the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirit.

This is our 10-year ESG action plan to help create a more inclusive and sustainable world. We are committed to promoting a positive role for alcohol, championing inclusion and diversity, preserving natural resources and making a positive contribution to the communities in which we live, work, source and sell.

Diageo acquires Aviation Gin LLC and Davos Brands LLC (‘Davos Brands’), supporting our participation in the super premium gin segment in the United States.

Diageo announces plans to invest $500m to expand manufacturing in Mexico for the tequila category.

Diageo acquires Chase Distillery, bringing the award-winning Chase Original Potato Vodka and seven premium plus gins, including Chase GB Gin, Pink Grapefruit & Pomelo Gin and Rhubarb & Bramley Apple Gin into the Diageo portfolio.

Diageo announces that its new Kentucky whiskey distillery, which will distill Bulleit, is expected to be carbon neutral – one of the largest in North America, and a first for Diageo, the site will be powered by 100% renewable electricity, with a capacity to produce up to 10 million proof gallons per year.

Learn more about Bulleit's carbon neutral distillery

Diageo breaks ground on the construction of a new US$75 million distillery to produce the group’s first China-origin, single malt whisky. The distillery in Yunnan Province will be carbon neutral when it opens.

Johnnie Walker Princes Street opens in Edinburgh, leading the way for tourism in the capital. The venue is the centrepiece of Diageo’s £185 million investment in Scotch whisky tourism, following the opening of new experiences at the Glenkinchie, Clynelish and Cardhu distilleries.

Diageo moves its global headquarters from Park Royal, NW10, to a new central London home, 16 Great Marlborough Street, W1.