BROWN-FORMAN LOOKS TO SCOTLAND

THE COMPANY behind Jack Daniel’s Whiskey is getting back into the Scotch biz. Brown-Forman is investing approximately $416.3 million to snap up the BenRiach Distillery and its three single-malt Scotch whisky brands as part of a continued push to reshape its portfolio. The deal will see the distillery’s brands – The GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh – added to their portfolio of whiskey labels. For Brown-Forman, the deal marks the company’s re-entry into the single-malt Scotch whisky arena as it sold its minority interest in Glenmorangie PLC in 2O15.

All three brands have a long history in Scotland. The GlenDronach Distillery, which is in the Scottish Highlands, was founded in 1826 and is known for its richly sherried whiskies. The BenRiach Distillery, which is located in Speyside, started making malt whisky in 1989 and is known for producing whiskies from both nonpeated and peated malted barley. And the Glenglassaugh Distillery, founded in 1875, sits on the northern coast of the Scottish Highlands and is known for its coastal Highland malt. The deal comes after Brown-Forman sold its Southern Comfort and Tuaca brands to Sazerac for roughly $543.5 million in January.