William Grant & Sons has exemplified its commitment to the Scotch whisky category, welcoming The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt brands into its portfolio.
Following a successful acquisition from The 1887 Company, the two brands join William Grant & Sons portfolio of iconic Scotch whisky brands such as Glenfiddich, The Balvenie and Monkey Shoulder. The portfolio also includes premium brands like Hendrick’s Gin, Tullamore D.E.W Irish Whiskey and Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum.
The acquisition includes all variants of The Famous Grouse, of which approximately 2.7 million nine-litre cases are sold globally each year. With more than 45 per cent of these sales coming from the UK, where it is the number one whisky, the acquisition is set to double the volume of William Grant & Sons’ UK business.
The Famous Grouse is now exported to over 100 countries, and is the number four standard blended Scotch whisky worldwide, according to IWSR data. Since 1980, The Famous Grouse has been the best-selling whisky in Scotland.
Søren Hagh, Chief Executive Officer of William Grant & Sons, stated: “I am delighted to complete this acquisition and welcome The Famous Grouse into our portfolio. It is a remarkable Scottish brand with rich history and a strong market position in a number of countries. Over the coming years, we will build on this strong foundation and work to evolve the brand into a true global icon.”
Initially launched as a blended Scotch in 2011, Naked Malt was relaunched as a blended malt in 2017. Produced in Scotland, the whisky sells around 50,000 nine-litre cases per year. The brand has a strong following in Asia Pacific, where Taiwan and Korea represent its top two markets.
Hagh added: “We also see a lot of potential in Naked Malt, which will be a great addition to our portfolio. Together, these brands perfectly complement our vision for growth, and we look forward to investing in their future and sharing their stories with whisky lovers around the world.”
