Liquid Asset Brands invests $14m in Stolen Spirits

Liquid Asset Brands (LAB) and Spirits Investment Partners have invested US$14 million for a majority stake in Stolen Spirits to take the “world’s first smoked rum” to the US.

Stolen Smoked Rum is said to the “world’s first” smoked rum

Stolen was first founded in 2010 by Jamie Duff and Roger Holmes and now boasts a portfolio of four rum expressions, including the first ever smoked variant called Stolen Smoked Rum, which is now scheduled to launch in the US in early 2016.

In April this year, MAB Capital Management, led by Marc Bushala – a founding partner of Angel’s Share Brands, parent company of Angel’s Envy – launched LAB Innovation Fund I, which pledged to make equity investments of US$3m-US$10m in early stage beverage businesses.

“I am thrilled with our investment in Stolen,” said Bushala. “We consider it to be one of the best emerging spirit brands to come to market in the last few years.

“We love Stolen’s unique brand positioning and their innovation in the rum category.

“We are also excited to work with the Stolen team to expand the brand portfolio.”

Stolen works with a distillery in Trinidad & Tobago to create column-distilled rum aged in ex-whisky barrels in the Caribbean.

Ingredients such as refractionated Arabica coffee beans from Colombia, vanilla from Madagascar and fenugreek from Morocco are then added to the spirit, before it is “smoked” using American Hardwood.

“It was always my dream to take the Stolen brand to the USA, the most dynamic spirits market in the world,” said Duff, Stolen founder and chief creative officer.

“Marc and his team at LAB are real pros, all smart entrepreneurs at heart and who totally embody the Stolen ethos.

“We’re very fortunate to work with LAB as our global partner, which will enable us to do everything we want to do with this brand.

“Not only expanding into the US markets but also developing Stolen product extensions.”