Cornishman came up with the idea for iconic drink

A CORNISHMAN who pioneered favourite drinks including Baileys’ Irish Cream, Malibu, Le Piat d’Or and Johnnie Walker Blue Label has died at the age of 93.

It was Tom Jago who came up with the idea in 1974 of mixing Irish whiskey with cream to create the iconic drink known as Baileys’ Irish Cream. It now sells more than 87 million bottles each year around the world.

He also launched the wine brand Le Piat d’Or in 1978, which was designed for British tastes. At the time he was the head of development at International Distillers & Vintners.

Mr Jago was born in Camelford in Cornwall. His father Thomas Bennett Jago was the manager at Barclays Bank in the town. He went to Camelford Grammar School before studying history at Christ Church College, Oxford.

His studies were interrupted by the Second World War, when he joined the Royal Navy and served as a lieutenant on the destroyer Wolfhound in the north Atlantic.

After graduating following the war, he got his first job as a copywriter in an advertising agency and it was here he worked for clients in the wine and spirits industry.

He moved to work for one company which, in time, became International Distillers & Vintners. His work here also included reviving the brand Croft Pale Cream Sherry.

His next job took him into the world of whisky, where at United Distillers he helped create the Johnnie Walker Blue Label brand.

Mr Jago was also the president and co-founder of The Last Drop Distillers, which said: “It is with profound and heartfelt sadness that we announce the death of our cofounder and inspirational president, Tom Jago, aged 93.

“Beloved by us all, we give thanks for his brilliance, his incisive humour and, above all, his deep affection for the team and the industry he so loved. Rest in peace, Tom.”

Mr Jago married Penelope Vaughan Morgan in 1952, who died earlier this year. He leaves behind three sons and a daughter and six grandchildren.