Brown-Forman to acquire the BenRiach Distillery Co.

[Diademo]

Brown-Forman Corporation announced today that it has reached definitive agreement to purchase The BenRiach Distillery Company Limited for approximately £285 million. When completed, the purchase will bring three outstanding Single Malt Scotch Whisky brands into Brown-Forman’s growing whiskey portfolio: The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh.

“We feel immensely privileged to have been custodians of this business for the last 12 years, and to be associated with these wonderful brands and great distilleries,” said Billy Walker, managing director of The BenRiach Distillery Company Limited. “Our team have energized these distilleries and engaged creatively and successfully with the premium end of the market. We are very confident that Brown-Forman will take The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh brands to the next level and fulfill their full potential, and prove to be worthy custodians of these historic distilleries.”

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/brown-forman-acquire-glendronach-benriach-090000831.html

Personally, I think that this is sad news. For the future of these brands it’s important that Billy Walker stays in the managing position.

[William]

I got the press release about this from Brown Forman this morning and posted about it here:

http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/brownformanbenriach.htm

I have had no official press release from Benriach. I wonder if Billy Walker will stay? Hopefully we don't see the prices of the batch releases going up.
_________________
There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[Diademo]

[William]

Rather than have a duplicate post on the same news story I deleted my original post and link to the Benriach sale story and shifted your post here.
_________________
There's no bad whisky. Just good whisky and better whisky.

[Bookie]

William, it will be interesting to see if Billy Walker will be staying on, I assume he will be on a good share of the £285 million. Personally I would be retiring and taking a few hand selected casks with me.

[Kray]

Hopefully the batch releases continue with the same quality and pricing, time will tell.

[Fergie]

I am sure that £285m is probably a nice little profit for the Benriach distillery company after 12 years investment from them.

Anyone for a Glendronach Jack Daniels finish

[Diademo]

[Diademo]

Mark Gillespie (who else) had a timely interview with Billy Walker about the future of the company. It seems that Billy is remaining as master distiller and bender; all other 164 workers are keeping their jobs as well.
http://whiskycast.com/benriachs-walker-its-an-emotional-day/

[James T]

I would guess prices may rise, they need to get some of the £285 million back somehow.

[Diademo]

[Darwin]

Brown-Forman has deep pockets and is family controlled. I do hope they don't mess with Glendronach, maybe they will import a few additional expressions.

[sorren]

The signs are not great but we should wait and see what they do.. Hopefully they will see how good glendronach is and leave it well alone