Brown-Forman, the owner of the Jack Daniel’s whiskey brand, has announced it is strengthening its presence in the crafts spirits space with the acquisition of The 86 Company, the owner of the Fords Gin brand.
Distilled in London, Fords Gin is described as a collaboration between Simon Ford and Charles Maxwell of Thames Distillers. Said to be a mix of nine botanicals, Fords Gin starts with a traditional base of juniper and coriander seed that is balanced by citrus, florals, and spices.
Commenting on the deal, Brown-Form president and CEO Lawson Whiting said: “Fords Gin is a unique brand with terrific momentum in one of the fastest growing categories in spirits. We look forward to building Fords Gin into another iconic brand in our portfolio”.
“Brown-Forman is a great partner to bring Fords Gin to more bartenders and consumers in the U.S. and around the world while keeping our commitment to producing a unique, high quality, mixable gin”, added Simon Ford, The 86 Company co-founder. “We’re extremely thankful to all our supporters who have been championing the brand since the beginning and look forward to seeing what the future holds with our new collaborators”.
The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions and is expected to be completed within 30 days.
Source: Brown-Forman (via BusinessWire) / The 86 Company