"This marks a transformation of our spirits business and the evolution of our position in this segment," said William A. Terlato, CEO of Terlato Wines. "The Distell Group brings a portfolio of world-class spirits brands that complements our own Terlato Artisan Spirits portfolio. In addition to maximizing distribution and sales of our combined portfolio, we'll also be looking for strategic acquisitions."
In 2013, Terlato Wines launched its luxury spirits portfolio, Terlato Artisan Spirits, alongside its leading luxury wine business. Terlato has represented Nonino amaro and grappas since 1996, and other Terlato Artisan Spirits key brands include Langley's No. 8 Gin, Don Pancho Origenes Rum, Riazul Tequila and Tiramisu Liqueur. In the last two years, Terlato Artisan Spirits has achieved recognition and success for the artisanal quality and authenticity of its brands.
Distell, owner of Amarula Cream Liqueur and Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky, has been on a growth and acquisition path for several years. The company acquired Bisquit Cognac in 2009, and in 2013, it purchased Burn Steward Distillers, known for its family of highly regarded Scotch whiskies (Scotch single malts Bunnahabhain, Tobermory, Deanston, Ledaig and Black Bottle, a blended product.)
"This joint venture is a great match," said Steven Nathan, managing director of Distell International. "As we thought about how best to penetrate the U.S. market, we liked the idea of partnering with Terlato. They have a successful track record with luxury brands and are known for their impeccable portfolio of wines and spirits from outstanding producers and regions in the world. Their strong relationship with distributors and trade and their successful marketing and route-to-market strategies offer a solid foundation for our business. We are proud to unite our two portfolios in this joint venture."
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