Halewood buys Australia’s Ironbark Distillery

UK-based Halewood Wines & Spirits has acquired a majority stake in Australia’s Ironbark Distillery, at the same time as establishing an Australian import business.

Ironbark Distillery in New South Wales is aiming to triple its production capacity

New South Wales-based Ironbark Distillery produces vodka, gin, rum and moonshine using local mountain spring water. The cost of the acquisition has not been disclosed.

As part of the deal, the distillery’s leading brand Ironbark Dry Gin will enter the UK, US and China – marking the first time the gin is exported outside of Australia.

Halewood’s new Australian arm, Halewood Australia, will import and market its British products including Whitley Neill gin, JJ Whitley gin, Dead Man’s Fingers rum, Aber Falls spirits, and the Peaky Blinder spirits range.

Stewart Hainsworth, CEO of Halewood Wines & Spirits, said: “The formation of the Halewood Australia business is an exciting step for us internationally and will allow us to introduce our wider portfolio. We look forward to successfully developing the Ironbark brand globally.”

Ironbark is aiming to triple production capacity of its gin, rum and whisky.

Reg Papps, master distiller and director of Ironbark, said: “When you create a brand you always dream that it will be carried on for generations.

“To have a business partner like Halewood Australia behind Ironbark gives us the opportunity to see the business grow to its full potential and be carried forward for many generations.”

Halewood currently operates in South Africa, China, Thailand, Ireland, US and Australia, and now exports to more than 100 countries.

In January this year, the group disposed of its majority stake in West Cork Distillers at the same time as reporting a 319% increase in operating profit in the year ending 30 June 2018.