Jack Daniel's owner Brown-Forman to buy BenRiach Distillery for $416 mn

Brown-Forman Corp, producer of Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, yesterday struck a deal to buy Scotland's BenRiach Distillery Co along with three brands, in order to expand its portfolio of American, Irish and Canadian whiskies.

The deal will allow Brown-Forman to once again enter the Single Malt Scotch Whisky market after it exited in 2005.

The transaction will give Brown-Forman three key Single Malt Scotch Whisky brands - GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh. The deal also includes those brand trademarks, as well as three malt distilleries, a bottling plant, and the company's headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Brown-Forman had earlier held a minority stake in Glenmorangie and marketed the single malt whisky in the US and Canada from 1992 to 2005 and in some European and Asian markets from 2000 to 2005.

The Kentucky-based company sold its interest as part of Glenmorangie Plc's sale to Moet Hennessy in 2005.

''The acquisition of these super premium brands will allow Brown-Forman to re-enter one of our industry's most exciting and consistent growth segments, Single Malt Scotch Whisky,'' said Brown-Forman CEO, Paul Varga.

The GlenDronach Distillery was founded in 1826 and is located in the hills of the Scottish Highlands, while the Glenglassaugh Distillery was founded in 1875, and is located on the coast in the northern Scottish Highlands. The BenRiach Distillery was founded in 1898 and is located in the Speyside area of Scotland.

These brands biggest markets are the US, the UK, Germany, and Taiwan, and have combined annual sales of about 75,000 cases.

The purchase comes a few months after Brown-Forman sold its Southern Comfort and Tuaca brands to Louisiana-based Sazerac for $543.5 million (See: Jack Daniel's owner Brown-Forman to sell two liqueur brands for $543.5 mn), and entered the Irish whiskey market by buying Slane Castle Irish Whiskey.

Founded in 1870 by George Garvin Brown, Brown-Forman is one of the largest American-owned spirits and wine companies and among the top 10 largest global spirits companies.

Its more than 25 brands include Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey, Jack Daniel's & Cola, Jack Daniel's Tennessee Honey, Gentleman Jack, Jack Daniel's Single Barrel, Finlandia, Korbel, el Jimador, Woodford Reserve, Canadian Mist, Herradura, New Mix, Sonoma-Cutrer, Early Times, and Chambord.

The company employs more than 4,000 people worldwide and its brands are sold in around 160 countries.