United Liquors, LLC history

In 1935, a group of investors opened the Heaven Hill Distillery in Bardstown.

In 1942 they introduced Wild Turkey bourbon to the marketplace.

After taking a 10-year sabbatical from the industry, he returned to his whiskey roots, bought a plant in Loretto that he named Star Hill Farm, and started to produce Maker’s Mark bourbon in 1953.

The first ever in-house product, the Golden Grape Brandy was launched in 1962.

In 1963, the company began manufacturing its McDowell’s No.1 Brandy.

In 1968, the Iconic Mc Dowell’s No.1 Whisky was launched, and it proved to be a hit among the whisky lovers.

Mallya acquired the Herbetsons in 1973 and announced that his son Vijay Mallya would be taking over as Director of the group.

Mohl, Bruce A., "A Battle Is Brewing, Liquor Bill Is on the Hill," Boston Globe, April 21, 1981.

In 1983 Vijay Mallya took over as Chairman on the UB Group, focussing on product development and strategy.

Nussman had died of cancer in late 1989, making the distributor available for Martignetti to add to its holdings.

The company was acquired by United Distillers in 1991.

1992 saw the launch of Asia’s first Single Malt, Gin and Vodka.

Martignetti along with five other liquor wholesalers were caught in a sting operation conducted by the state Alcoholic Beverages Control Commission (ABCC), which used an undercover investigator to pose as an employee at a package store in the winter of 1993.

In August 1994 the state issued some of the toughest sanctions in decades against the industry, ordering the six liquor wholesalers that were ensnared in the trap to shut down for five days.

Weld conducted his own review of the situation and pronounced himself clean while urging the grand jury investigation to be wrapped up before the November elections. It would not be until the end of March 1995 that the state attorney general's office finally announced that it could find no evidence of criminal wrongdoing.

Martignetti rounded out its New England operations in 1998 by forming Martignetti Companies of Rhode Island.

The facility opened in 1999.

In 2000 it acquired Classic Wine Imports, Inc., a Boston-based importer of fine wines.

In December 2002 the company acquired the Indian and Middle East businesses of Gilbeys from UDV through their ultimate subsidiary Triumph Distillers & Vintners Pvt Ltd.

Higgins, A. Jay, "Companies Reach Liquor Compromise, Will Share Maine Sales, Distribution," Bangor Daily News (Bangor, Maine), May 11, 2004.

The Antiquity Rare Premium became an exquisite blend manufactured by Shaw Wallace, a company which was acquired in 2005 by the UB Group.

In March 2006 Primo Distributors Pvt Ltd a wholly owned subsidiary of United Distillers India Ltd became a wholly owned subsidiary of the company.During the year 2006-07 the company changed their name from McDowell & Company Ltd to United Spirits Ltd with effect from October 17 2006.

In May 2007 the company acquired 100% stake in Whyte & Mackay a leading distiller of Scotch whisky.

In 2009, The Black Dog 18 Year Old was launched as a premium scotch brand and promoted in the Indian Market.

On 4 July 2013 Diageo bought an additional 14.98% of the company for Rs 31.35 billion.

Ltd was sold during the FY 2017-18.