EVERYONE HAS EYES FOR DRAMBUIE

DRAMBUIE CERTAINLY has its share of suitors at the moment. Currently for sale by the MacKinnon family, the liqueur has sparked interest in several drinks groups that wish to add the brand to their portfolios. William Grant & Sons, the family-owned business behind Glenfiddich and Grant’s, is examining a £1OOm (US $17Om) takeover of the spirit reputed to be made from a recipe concocted by Bonnie Prince Charlie. Other suitors for the brand include Remy-Cointreau according to insiders. The Balvenie Single Malt and Hendrick’s Gin are also part of William Grant’s portfolio, and analysts say that Drambuie would fit well alongside its other brands. The owners are reported to be seeking £1OOm for the business, a price that puts it within easy reach of all of the major spirits companies. The sector has seen a further wave of consolidation this year, led by the Japanese group Suntory, which paid $16bn to buy Beam in January. Whyte & Mackay, another spirits group, was sold to Emperador, a Filipino brandy producer in May, and other deals are said to be brewing.