List of Craft Whiskey Acquisitions

Making whisky is an expensive business, and many small distilleries who start out independent turn to bigger partners for help growing their production, distribution, and other business moves. Selling a stake in their distillery—or being acquired outright—doesn't make these people sellouts, but it does open the door to questions.

Buyouts, Partnerships, and Majority/Minority Stakes in Independent Whiskey Distilleries and Brands

This list will be continuously updated as new acquisitions and other business partnerships occur.WhistlePig Whiskey—Shoreham, VermontSold a minority stake to Moët Hennessy in December 2020Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co.—Fort Worth, TexasSold to Pernod Ricard in August 2019Rabbit Hole Distillery—Louisville, KentuckySold majority stake to Pernod Ricard in June 2019Black Button Distilling—Rochester, New YorkSold minority stake to Constellation Brands in February 2019Westward Whiskey—Portland, OregonSold partial stake to Diageo's Distill Ventures Unit in September 2019Wyoming Whiskey—Kirby, WyomingFormed strategic partnership with Edrington Group in September 2018Pendleton Whisky—Hood River, Oregon (sourced from Canada)Sold to Becle, S.A.B. de C.V. (Cuervo) in December 2017Yellow Rose Distilling—Houston, TexasSold equity stake to Spain's Zamora Co. in November 2017Masterson's Rye and Bib & Tucker Bourbon—Sonoma, California (sourced)Acquired by Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits in August 2017Woodinville Whiskey Co.—Woodinville, WashingtonSold to Moët Hennessy in July 2017Teeling Whiskey Co.—Dublin, IrelandSold minority stake to Bacardi Ltd. in 2017Kentucky Owl—Bardstown, Kentucky (sourced)Sold to SPI Group in January 2017

Bardstown Bourbon Co.—Bardstown, Kentucky

Sold minority stake to Constellation Brands in 2016

BenRiach Distillery Co.—Newbridge, Scotland

Sold to Brown-Forman Corp. in 2016

High West Distillery—Park City/Wanship, Utah (partly sourced)

Sold to Constellation Brands in 2016

Nelson's Green Brier Distillery—Nashville, Tennessee

Sold minority stake to Constellation Brands in 2016; Constellation subsequently acquired a majority stake in May 2019

Catoctin Creek—Purcellville, VirginiaSold minority stake to Constellation Brands in 2016

Smooth Ambler Spirits—Maxwelton, West Virginia

Sold majority stake to Pernod Ricard in 2016

Westland Distillery—Seattle, Washington

Sold to Rémy Cointreau in 2016

Angel's Envy—Louisville, Kentucky

Sold to Bacardi Ltd. in 2015

Witherspoon Distillery—Lewisville, TexasSold minority stake to Sazerac in 2015Compass Box Whisky Co.—LondonSold minority stake to Bacardi Ltd. in 2014

Forty Creek Distillery—Grimsby, Ontario

Sold to Campari America in 2014

Limestone Branch Distillery—Lebanon, Kentucky

Sold 50% stake to Luxco in 2014; Luxco and its Bardstown, Kentucky distillery, Lux Row, were subsequently acquired by MGP in 2021

Bruichladdich Distillery—Islay, Scotland

Sold to Rémy Cointreau in 2012

Stranahan's Distillery—Denver, ColoradoSold to Proximo Spirits, the U.S. division of Becle, S.A.B. de C.V. (Cuervo), in December 2010

Tuthilltown Spirits—Gardiner, New York

Sold Hudson whiskey brand to William Grant & Sons in 2010, followed by the rest of the distillery in 2017