Famous Grouse can trace its origins back to 1896 when Matthew Gloag took over from his entrepreneur uncle at the family's grocery and wine business in Perth, Scotland. Always the inspired adventurer, Matthew capitalised on a flourishing market for house-labelled blended whisky appealing to the growing number of sporting visitors attracted to Scotland's Northeast Highlands.

Matthew insisted that only the finest ingredients be used in his blend, and that the whisky, after years of maturation in oak casks, would only be available for sale when the final blend had been allowed to sit undisturbed for an additional six months. The exact composition of the blend remains a closely guarded secret although it is known that some of the finest malt whiskies such as Highland Park and Macallan are used. Today the Famous Grouse is Scotland's number one selling blended scotch.