
O’Brian Irish Whiskey
Whiskies
“Blended Whiskey, with a lot of Speyside malt”
First Blending Company is a whisky blender and bottler founded by Jean-Pierre Cayard in 1969. Cayard’s company, La Martiniquaise, had already begun operations in 1934. Initially a rum importer and national distributor, the company expanded into port, cognac, and calvados, eventually moving into the whisky sector. First Blending Company relocated its production facility to Scotland in 2004 and remains under tight French supervision. Their brands include Glen Turner 8, 12, 15, and 18 Years Old Pure Malt, as well as Label 5 Blended. Label 5 is one of the world's top-selling Scotch whiskies, driven by the French's strong preference for various aperitifs, including Scottish whisky. While Label 5 whiskies are primarily enjoyed in France, there is a substantial following in over 100 countries worldwide. Over the years, the brand's range has expanded to encompass a growing number of quality whiskies. Challenges have been encountered along the way, particularly in sourcing aged whisky, but bold initiatives have smoothed the path. The move to Scotland was pivotal, and four years later, La Martiniquaise acquired the Glen Moray malt whisky distillery. Around that time, development began on the Starlaw distillery, focusing on grain whisky production.