SIA Scotch Whisky gets investment boost

New start-up spirits investment firm Grandroots LLC has acquired a minority stake in crowdfunded blended Scotch whisky brand SIA for an undisclosed sum.

SIA Scotch Whisky, which launched two years ago after generating more than US$45,000 through Kickstarter, will use funds from the acquisition to expand production and distribution channels, ramp up marketing activity and gain chain grocery and chain retail accounts.

The brand, a blend of Sepyside, Highland and Islay malt and grain whiskies bottled by Douglas Laing & Co., was launched by San Francisco-based Scotch enthusiast and bartender Carin Luna-Ostaseski, who wanted to create a whisky that appealed to contemporary palates.

Imported into the US by Spirits Imports, SIA is currently distributed in California, Illinois, Washington D.C., Maryland, Delaware, Tennessee, and across Australia.

Grandroots was formed in 2015 by Alan Shayne, president of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of America and founder of the Classic Cask Single Malt Whisky and South Bay Rum brands, and Jim Landis, founder of William Wolf Whiskey and co-founder of Hpnotiq liqueur.

The pair said Grandroots’ minority acquisition of SIA represents “a brilliant opportunity to invest in a brand with a high level of quality and great potential in the market”.