The Antiquary, which was named after a Gothic novel by Walter Scott, is a blend created in 1887 by the sons of James Hardie, a merchant established in Edinburgh in 1861 who, like many others at the time, sold whisky, tea and wine. The company helped found North British, which ensured it a reliable supply of grain whisky. In 1917, the brand was sold to J&W Hardie Ltd, which was then bought buy Distillers Company Limited in 1948. The Antiquary has been a huge hit abroad since the 1980s. The blend is primarily composed of Highland and Speyside malt whiskies, a small quantity of Islay whiskies and grain whisky.

A version of the blend The Antiquary imported to Italy in the 1960s by Wax & Vitale before the introduction of the bottle it is best known for.