Long John International's legacy began in 1805 when James Seager and Williams Evans began distilling their products in Pimlico, England. However, the company didn't make whisky until 1927 when it was known as Seager, Evans & Co., Ltd., and its whiskeys were produced by its subsidiary, Scottish Grain Distilling Co. Ltd., of Strathclyde.
The whisky was created by Long John McDonald, who was descended from John McDonald, Lord of the Isles. And the whisky was originally a single malt but was changed to a blend just after the turn of the century. In 1956, the company took over Chaplin's of Tower Hill, which had acquired Long John whisky in 1911. After also buying the Scottish distillery Glenguie, Seager, Evans & Co., Ltd, itself was bought out by Schenley Industries of New York in 1956. In 1971, the Seager, Evans firm changed its name to Long John International, presumably to get back to its roots. The London-based brewer Whitbred acquired Long John International in 1975 and the Long John blend continues to be one of the company's best-selling whiskies.

Matchbox Collectibles acknowledges Long John's endurance with a die-cast model of the dependable 1926 Ford TT, handsomely appointed with the company's logo on the side panels and its claim to be makers of the "FINEST SCOTCH WHISKY" on the doors.

(1997)

Scale: 1:41