Edrington has strengthened its strategy of securing owned production of casks for Scotch whisky brand The Macallan through another cooperage transaction in Spain.
Earlier this year, the privately-owned group bought a 50% stake in Bodegas Grupo Estévez in Spain’s Sherry-producing region of Andalusia through Macallan. Estévez’s ex-Sherry casks are subsequently available exclusively to Edrington’s flagship single malt.
Another purchase has been announced today, this time for Vasyma, a cooperage based in the town of Jerez in Andalusia. The acquisition, for an undisclosed sum, builds on a 30+-year relationship between the two to supply casks for Macallan.
At the same time, Edrington confirmed the formation of a joint venture with Coopers Oak in Ohio, which supplies American oak staves to Vasyma for its casks. Again, specific numbers were not detailed.
“Vasyma’s high-quality casks, made from oak expertly sourced by Coopers Oak, have played an important role in the history and success of The Macallan,” said Edrington CEO Scott McCroskie. “We look forward to working closer than ever with these fine craftsmen in Jerez and Ohio as we continue to focus on the quality and resilience of The Macallan’s cask supply chain.”
Edrington, in which Beam Suntory parent Suntory holds a 10% stake, hit a new sales high in the 12 months to the end of March, with the company reporting a 22% year-on-year top-line jump to GBP1.08bn [then-US$1.37bn].
The group’s portfolio also includes single malts Highland Park and The Glenrothes as well as The Famous Grouse blended Scotch.
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