Bacardi has acquired full ownership of Ilegal Mezcal, with the brand joining the Patron and Cazadores Tequilas in the group’s Mexican spirits portfolio.
The purchase, announced today [Monday], builds on Bacardi’s minority stake in Ilegal that dates back to 2017. While the privately-owned company did not provide specific details about the holding, Bloomberg estimated earlier this year that it owned “about 20%” of Ilegal.
According to today’s statement, Bacardi initially partnered with the brand in 2015. Ilegal was founded by John Rexer, who was running a bar in Guatemala at the time, 17 years ago. The range, all produced using 100% espadin agave, comprises a joven, a reposado and an añejo.
“We believe that Ilegal has the credentials to own and lead the super-premium mezcal category at a global level,” said group chair Barry Kabalkin. “Ilegal perfectly complements our portfolio and bringing it into our business sets the brand up for even greater growth as mezcal captivates more and more consumers.”
Bacardi cited forecasts from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis that over the next five years, the mezcal category will deliver a compound annual growth rate of 16%. Over the same period, agave-based spirits more generally are expected to “become the second largest category [by value] in the US, again according to IWSR.
Earlier this year, Bacardi purchased majority control of the D’Ussé Cognac brand.
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