Andrew Usher

Who was Andrew Usher?

Andrew Usher was a successful whisky distiller and blender. His father had experimented with the blending of whisky in the 1840s. Andrew Usher II was made a partner of Andrew Usher & Co of Edinburgh in the late 1840s. Andrew Usher II perfected the blending of whisky. This propelled whisky from a drink that had hardly been heard of outside Scotland and Ireland into the golden liquid which conquered the world. Andrew Usher II was one of the three founders of the North British Distillery with the other two founders being John Crabbie of Crabbie's Green Ginger and William Sanderson, whisky distiller of Vat 69, who both served as Directors of the NB distillery. Andrew Usher II was the first Chairman of the NB Distillery from the start in 1885 until very shortly before his death on 1/11/1898. Andrew Usher II and his brother John Usher, as Partners in Andrew Usher & Co, were also the proprietors of the Edinburgh Distillery. Andrew Usher II is acclaimed as the Father of the modern Scottish Whisky industry.

Among his many bequests to Edinburgh and Scotland was the Usher Hall, Scotland's premier concert hall. He also played a major role in improving the fishing village and harbour of St Abbs in Berwickshire.