© urane
© urane
Token - Long John Mc Donald ND
| Copper | 11.30 g | 30.00 mm |
| Location | United Kingdom (United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies) |
|---|---|
| Type | Medals › Advertising medallions |
| Composition | Copper |
| Weight | 11.30 g |
| Diameter | 30.00 mm |
| Thickness | 1.87 mm |
| Shape | Round |
| Technique | Milled |
| Orientation | Medal alignment ↑↑ |
| Updated | 2024-11-14 |
| Numista | N#133378 |
|---|---|
| Rarity index | 92% |
Reverse
Portrait on the right of Long John McDonald
Script: Latin
Lettering: Long John Mc Donald 1796 - 1856. Long John Mc Donald 1796 - 1856
Comment
Long John' McDonald was a great man, and a giant of the Scotch whisky trade, in which - with his son Donald - he established one of the world's most famous single malts.The Ben Nevis distillery was famous in Victorian times as the home of Long John's Ben Nevis Dew, one of the best-known brands of Highland single malt Scotch whisky. Although the eponymous "Long John" was not the company's founder, he and his son Donald were the men who made it famous.
The distillery was built by Angus McDonnell in 1825 on the banks of the River Lochy, just outside Fort William, at the foot of Britain's highest mountain. He began making whisky there in February 1826, and production amounted to around 200 gallons a week. Some writers believe he was a relative of 'Long John' McDonald (1799-1856), who may have worked for him at the distillery.
We know for certain that Long John became a partner in the business in 1830 and bought Angus's remaining shareholding for the grand sum of £1,200 the following year.
As his nickname suggests, the new owner was a big man: he was said to be 6 feet 4 inches tall and powerfully built. One writer described him as "a happy Hercules, the tallest man I ever saw at a show", and he was known as a great sportsman.
