Glenrothes brand sold back to Edrington

Berry Bros & Rudd has announced the sale of The Glenrothes Speyside single malt Scotch whisky to Edrington for an undisclosed fee.

The sale will see The Glenrothes brand reunited with The Glenrothes Distillery and cooperage, which have been owned and run by Edrington and Highland Distillers since 1887.

Berry Bros & Rudd has distributed The Glenrothes in international markets since 1995 and purchased the brand from Edrington in 2010. During this time the brand has grown to become a significant participant in the growing single malt Scotch whisky market.

Commenting on the sale, Berry Bros & Rudd chief executive Dan Jago says: “It has been a great honour to be the guardians of The Glenrothes brand over the past seven years. Berry Bros & Rudd has nurtured The Glenrothes brand and we are delighted our distributor and importer business Fields. Morris & Verdin will continue to distribute The Glenrothes in the UK.

“Berry Bros & Rudd has always delighted in the development and cultivation of new spirits brands and the sale will enable us to invest further, developing our business ambitions in this area.”

Paul Ross, managing director of Edrington’s super premium business unit adds: “We would like to thank Berry Bros & Rudd for their excellent stewardship of The Glenrothes over the past seven years.

“We are very pleased to be reuniting the brand with its distillery and we know it will be an excellent member of Edrington’s leading family of premium brands, including The Macallan and Highland Park. We are very much looking forward to accelerating the growth of this award-winning single malt in international markets.”

Berry Bros & Rudd will continue to distribute The Glenrothes in the UK. Edrington and its joint venture distribution companies already distribute the brand in several of its key markets, including Spain, the Nordics, Asia and travel retail. The Glenrothes will be distributed by Edrington Americas in the USA. Existing distribution contracts will transfer to Edrington with the brand.

The character and quality of the single malt will remain unchanged under the care of Gordon Motion, Edrington’s master whisky maker, who has been crafting The Glenrothes whisky throughout the past seven years.

3 May 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor