William Grant Starts a Distillery The story of William Grant proves the benefits of good old hard work and tenacity or perhaps the benefits of legendary Scottish stubbornness. After paying for the expenses of his wedding to Elizabeth Duncan in 1859, the 20-year-old Grant had exactly six pence. The careful investment of that sixpence is part of the genesis behind the Bennett Family Reserve. William Grant began with an interest in the land knowing that often you can find opportunity right under your feet. Drawn to the land's potential, he took a job as a bookkeeper at the local Mortlach distillery where he became downright passionate about Scotch whisky. The whisky business provided him with many daily joys: he felt a kinship to the land and was able to learn the ins and outs of using the natural spring water and local grains of the region. He wanted to pour his energies into something he could call his own and new he wouldn't be satisfied until he was the captain of his own ship. He set out to become a distillery owner. Next > © 2009 Bennett Family Reserve