John Crabbie might be better known for ginger wine nowadays, but he was an independent bottler, single malt producer and recognised blender in the 19th century. Crabbie was one of the first to recognise the potential of Scotch whisky and procured a former brewery in Leith in 1852. The Scotsman also had a hand in the creation of North British Distillery, which is still in operation today and is thought to have produced more than 230 billion litres of alcohol since its foundation in 1885.
