American whiskey brand Four Roses has a new owner in Gallo, as Kirin Holdings has agreed to sell.
The transaction, valued by Kirin at “up to” JPY120bn (US$764.5m), will see the full Four Roses Distillery business transition to Gallo. Confirmed by the Japanese group earlier today (6 February), the transfer is scheduled to complete before the end of June.
The announcement comes just over three months after a divestment was mooted in a report from The FT. Kirin was hoping to raise in the region of $1bn from the bourbon brand, which it had owned since 2002.
“Since our acquisition of Four Roses … the business has achieved strong growth, primarily in the US market, and contributed to the growth of Kirin’s enterprise value,” the group said. “Meanwhile, Kirin regularly reviews its balance sheet and business portfolio from a medium- to long- term perspective.
“After careful consideration as part of this review, Kirin decided to enter into an agreement to transfer the business to Gallo.”
The wine giant has been busy growing its Spirit of Gallo division in recent years: A “strategic investment” in Puerto Rico-based rum brand Ron del Barrilito in mid-2024 followed a similar transaction three months earlier in Mexico’s Condesa Gin.
Spirit of Gallo made its debut in the American whiskey category in 2022, buying into the Horse Soldier bourbon.
