BIRTH OF GEORGE BALLANTINE 1809 13 years later, George leaves home to start a grocer apprenticeship in Edinburgh GEORGE SETS UP SHOP 1827 After five years as an apprentice, 19-year old George Ballantine shakes things up in Edinburgh with a new grocery store in the Cowgate, a completely different part of Edinburgh from most of the other grocers. GEORGE MOVES INTO WINE AND SPRITS 1836 George turns his hand to the art of ageing whiskies specialising in quality, hand-selected malts. Time to open a bigger Ballantine’s shop, with a new grocery store in South Bridge. BALLANTINE’S SHOP AND DROP BEGINS 1857 George offers free delivery within 10 miles. Pioneering ‘shop and drop’ way before the age of internet shopping, requiring a need to expand the business again.
