In 1936, Leonard Russell embarked on his business journey as a whisky broker, gradually expanding into blending and exporting. In 1956, his son Peter Russell joined the family firm. By 1963, Peter had acquired Ian Macleod & Co and its renowned Isle of Skye blended Scotch whisky brand, merging it with what had evolved into Peter J Russell & Co. Ian Macleod & Co, established in 1933, became a cornerstone of their enterprise. In 2006, they unveiled Smokehead, an Islay single malt with a strikingly contemporary allure.
The company realized a longstanding aspiration in 2003 by acquiring Glengoyne distillery from The Edrington Group for £7.2 million. Eight years later, they added Tamdhu distillery to their repertoire, purchased from Edrington and revived in 2012 after being dormant since 2009.
September 2016 marked another milestone as the company acquired Spencerfield Spirit Company, renowned for whisky blending and gin distillation, for an undisclosed sum. This strategic move broadened their portfolio to include Pig's Nose, Feathery, and Sheep Dip blended Scotch whiskies, along with the esteemed Edinburgh Gin brand.