Records from 1762 show the Chibnall family owned a wine merchants, a cooperage business and the local pub. Several predecessors had also been wine merchants. This later expanded to a London-based cork manufacturing business called G.Lombard. Through marriage, the family name became Lombard-Chibnall.
In the early 20th century, Henry Lombard-Chibnall married Alice Robinson of the brewery and soft drinks business. Brewers bottled beer, as well as gin, vodka, port.
Building on the family tradition, Margaret Lombard-Chibnall founded Lombard Scotch Whisky in the mid 1960s. Richard joined the company in his twenties, eventually working as Global Brand Director. Together, they built an award-winning portfolio of blended scotch whiskies as well as rare single cask, single malts.
In 2019, Richard founded the Molly Malone Whiskey Company - and that story is only just beginning!
The inspiration behind Molly Malone
In founder Richard’s own words…
“50 years ago our family moved to the Isle of Man. Located in heart of the Irish Sea, we settled in Ramsey – a working fishing community famous for its queenies (scallops).
On summer nights we often sit out, facing west over the harbour, and enjoy a dram (or two!). One evening, a local fishing boat crew were cooking on back of their boat. We quickly got chatting and they invited us onboard to eat.
We brought some whisky along (of course!), some of which was used to flash cook the queenies – the lightbulb moment that connected whiskey, cockles, mussels and… the song Molly Malone. I hope you love it as much as I do.”
