The firm of R Thorne & Sons was established in 1831 by Robert Thorne, and was described in Harper’s Directory 1914 as ‘Whisky Distillers Blenders and Warehouse-keepers’.

In 1892 they acquired what was then known as the Aberlour-Glenlivet distillery on Speyside.

The company was liquidated in 1920 with Aberlour being sold to WH Holt & Sons while Hiram Walker obtained rights to the Thorne’s brand name.

The brand was bottled and exported to the US until discontinued in 1980.