Black & White (whisky)
Encyclopedia
Black & White is a blended Scotch
whisky
. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan
. Originally known as House of Commons (after the British House of Commons
), its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.
The brand's motif (featuring a black Scottish Terrier
and a white West Highland White Terrier
) was conceived by James Buchanan
himself during the 1890s.
After a series of mergers and acquisitions involving Dewar's
(1915), Distillers Company, and Guinness
(forming United Distillers
), the brand is now owned by Diageo
. It is claimed to be most successful in France
, Venezuela
, and Brazil
. At present, the brand is not used within the United Kingdom
.
Scotch whisky
Scotch whisky is whisky made in Scotland.Scotch whisky is divided into five distinct categories: Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Single Grain Scotch Whisky, Blended Malt Scotch Whisky , Blended Grain Scotch Whisky, and Blended Scotch Whisky.All Scotch whisky must be aged in oak barrels for at least three...
whisky
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
. It was first produced by the London-based whisky blender founded by James Buchanan
James Buchanan, 1st Baron Woolavington
James Buchanan, 1st Baron Woolavington, GCVO, JP , known as Sir James Buchanan, Bt, between 1920 and 1922, was a British businessman, philanthropist and racehorse owner/breeder.-Background:...
. Originally known as House of Commons (after the British House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
), its nickname, referring to the black and white labelling, was eventually adopted as the official brand instead.
The brand's motif (featuring a black Scottish Terrier
Scottish Terrier
The Scottish Terrier , popularly called the Scottie, is a breed of dog. Initially one of the highland breeds of Terrier that were grouped under the name of Skye Terrier, it is one of five breeds of terrier that originated in Scotland, the other four being the modern Skye, Cairn, Dandie Dinmont, and...
and a white West Highland White Terrier
West Highland White Terrier
The West Highland White Terrier, commonly known as the Westie, is a Scottish breed of dog with a distinctive white coat. The modern breed is descended from a number of breeding programes of white terriers in Scotland prior to the 20th century...
) was conceived by James Buchanan
James Buchanan, 1st Baron Woolavington
James Buchanan, 1st Baron Woolavington, GCVO, JP , known as Sir James Buchanan, Bt, between 1920 and 1922, was a British businessman, philanthropist and racehorse owner/breeder.-Background:...
himself during the 1890s.
After a series of mergers and acquisitions involving Dewar's
Dewar's
Dewar's is a brand of blended Scotch whisky.-History:The Dewar's whisky brand was created by John Dewar, Sr. in 1846. Under the control of his two sons, John A. Dewar Jr. and Thomas "Tommy" Dewar , the brand expanded to become a global market by 1896...
(1915), Distillers Company, and Guinness
Guinness
Guinness is a popular Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin. Guinness is directly descended from the porter style that originated in London in the early 18th century and is one of the most successful beer brands worldwide, brewed in almost...
(forming United Distillers
United Distillers
United Distillers was a Scottish company formed in 1987 from combining the businesses of Distillers Company and Arthur Bell & Sons, both owned by Guinness. The company owned six Scotch whisky brands, which were relaunched as the Classic Malts range...
), the brand is now owned by Diageo
Diageo
Diageo plc is a global alcoholic beverages company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world's largest producer of spirits and a major producer of beer and wine....
. It is claimed to be most successful in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
, and Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. At present, the brand is not used within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
In popular culture
- American entertainer Dean Martin was a Black & White drinker in the '50s & '60s.
- Black & White is the whiskey Cary Grant was so fond of in the 1964 movie Father Goose.
- Marcello Mastroianni drank Black & White with his father and his friend Papparazzo in the Fellini film, La Dolce VitaLa Dolce VitaLa Dolce Vita is a 1960 comedy-drama film written and directed by the critically acclaimed director Federico Fellini. The film is a story of a passive journalist's week in Rome, and his search for both happiness and love that will never come...
. - Physicist Richard FeynmanRichard FeynmanRichard Phillips Feynman was an American physicist known for his work in the path integral formulation of quantum mechanics, the theory of quantum electrodynamics and the physics of the superfluidity of supercooled liquid helium, as well as in particle physics...
drank Black & White, as described in his book Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!"Surely You're Joking, Mr. Feynman!": Adventures of a Curious Character is an edited collection of reminiscences by the Nobel Prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman. The book, released in 1985, covers a variety of instances in Feynman's life...
. - Herbert KilpinHerbert KilpinHerbert Kilpin was an English football pioneer, player and manager. He is best known as the founder of Italian club A.C. Milan.- Early years :...
, co-founder and first captain of football club AC Milan, claimed that "the only way to forget a conceded goal was to drink a sip of the hard stuff", according to John Foot in his book, Winning at All Costs: A Scandalous History of Italian Soccer. He reportedly kept a bottle of Black and White whisky in a hole behind the goal for such an occasion. - Black & White whisky was featured in the film Dolores Claiborne.
- The drink is featured in the novel Breakfast of ChampionsBreakfast of ChampionsBreakfast of Champions, or Goodbye Blue Monday is a 1973 novel by the American author Kurt Vonnegut. Set in the fictional town of Midland City, it is the story of "two lonesome, skinny, fairly old white men on a planet which was dying fast." One of these men, Dwayne Hoover, is a normal-looking but...
by Kurt VonnegutKurt VonnegutKurt Vonnegut, Jr. was a 20th century American writer. His works such as Cat's Cradle , Slaughterhouse-Five and Breakfast of Champions blend satire, gallows humor and science fiction. He was known for his humanist beliefs and was honorary president of the American Humanist Association.-Early...
, in which the narrator orders a Black & White and water.