Charles Gordon octogenarian owner of William Grant's we can call him a visionary nomad, a descendant of the founding family of William Grant & Son, and later president of the group, attended an auction in 1966 where two stills were for sale. These were not just any distillers, as one was a wonderful copper "Carter Head" still built in 1948 by John Dore & co Ltd in a very limited series, the other was the still used by Marshall & Taplow of Stratford, one of London's historic gin distilleries already in existence at the time of the Gin Act., a very small 1860s pot still made by the legendary Bennet Sons & Shears. Charles Gordon did not let the opportunity pass him by, although he was not yet clear on what to do with it. It was only years later that the idea of using them for the production of Hendrick's Gin was born, which gives an idea of the pioneering mindset of Charles Gordon, the man who invented Single Malt Scotch Whisky. So it was after years of experimentation that Hendrick's Gin was born, in 1999.