Loch Lomond Group Acquires New York Distilling Company
Scotland-based Loch Lomond Group reaches across the pond for its first American whiskey
May 21, 2025 –––––– Jonny McCormick
Scotch distiller Loch Lomond Group is entering the American whiskey space with the completion of a deal to acquire Brooklyn-based craft distillery New York Distilling Company. It joins a Loch Lomond portfolio that includes whisky brands Glen Scotia, Loch Lomond, and Littlemill. The Loch Lomond Group signed a new U.S. distribution agreement with Foley Family Wines & Spirits in 2024, an indication of a renewed focus on the U.S. that has significantly increased the range and availability of its whiskies in the market.
Brooklyn Brewery founder Tom Potter and distiller and mixologist Allen Katz founded New York Distilling Company in 2011. The founders will continue to work with Loch Lomond Group to grow brands including Jaywalk rye, Mister Katz Rock & Rye, Dorothy Parker gin, and Perry Tot’s Navy strength gin, all of which should benefit from wider distribution and access to new markets. New York Distilling’s original home was located beside a firehouse in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg neighborhood, but was relocated to the Bushwick neighborhood in 2023. New York Distilling Company made its name as rye specialists by promoting the Empire Rye style: produced at a single New York State distillery from at least 75% New York state grown rye and the spirit must be aged in new charred oak barrels for at least two years, with a maximum barrel entry of 115 proof. Jaywalk straight rye, 100% heirloom rye, and the 92-point bottled in bond rye contains Horton heirloom rye brought to the new world from Europe in the 17th century, a variant that virtually died out during the 18th century. New York Distilling Company revived the heirloom rye after receiving 10 seeds from the seed bank at Cornell University in 2015, and managed to grow sufficient grain over successive harvests with farmers in Seneca Falls, New York in the Finger Lakes region.
This is the latest in what might become a new wave of craft consolidation. Last week, craft whiskey maker Old Elk was acquired by Middle West Spirits. With the multinationals apparently no longer interested in buying more craft brands, mid-tier spirits companies, like Loch Lomond, are filling that void to bolster their portfolios with additional brands for their distributors.
