William Grant & Sons has reached an agreement with Edrington to acquire the full portfolio of blended scotch The Famous Grouse.
The transaction, for an undisclosed sum, will see the brand join the Grant’s and Monkey Shoulder brands in William Grant’s blended scotch stable. Also moving across from Edrington will be its Naked Malt blend.
The move represents Edrington’s “mission to be the world’s best at crafting exceptional ultra-premium spirits brands”, the company said. Once completed, the privately-owned group will no longer have a presence in blended scotch, turning more of its attention to single malts The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes.
Edrington also owns Brugal rum, No. 3 London Dry gin and American whiskey brand Wyoming Whiskey.
“This decision is driven by our strategy to focus on our core strengths and the growth opportunities in the ultra-premium spirits category,” said CEO Scott McCroskie. “We consider this the right moment for Edrington to exit the blended Scotch category and focus on our core portfolio of ultra-premium spirit brands.”
A spokesperson for William Grant, which is also privately-owned, added: “Having been around for over 125 years, The Famous Grouse has a rich history and would be a significant addition to our portfolio.
“The brand has potential for innovation and international growth in a number of markets, and we’re excited about what the future holds.”
The Famous Grouse came under Edrington’s ownership in late 1999 through the acquisition of Highland Distillers, which was also home to The Macallan and Highland Park.
Edrington, which is 10%-owned by Suntory Global Spirits’ parent Suntory Holdings, has been busy in recent months on the cask supply side for The Macallan; Two weeks ago, the company completed the fourth and final transaction in its programme, taking a 50% stake in Spain’s Tevasa Forestal Group.
