From up-and-coming London distillers to established bartender brands, we look back at some of the gin industry’s biggest acquisitions to mark World Gin Day this Saturday (13 June).

Fords Gin was sold to Brown-Forman last year

Over the past year, French firm Pernod Ricard has made a flurry of deals in the gin sector, with a focus on super-premium and ultra-premium brands.

Meanwhile, a number of drinks groups made their first foray into the category, including Licor 43 owner Zamora Company and Mast-Jägermeister.

Perhaps one of the most talked about acquisitions was actor Ryan Reynolds’ purchase of American brand Aviation Gin in 2018.

Some notable omissions from our top 10 list include White Claw owner Mark Anthony Brands’ purchase of Irish gin producer Glendalough Distillery and a former Diageo CEO’s move to buy a stake in British brand Brockmans. 

Click through the following pages to see our selection of the top 10 acquisitions across the gin category.

Beam Suntory and Sipsmith

One of the first major gin acquisitions over the past five years was Beam Suntory’s purchase of a controlling stake in London-based distiller Sipsmith in December 2016.

The deal enabled Sipsmith to grow internationally and develop a wider distribution network. Maker’s Mark owner Beam Suntory’s gin portfolio also includes Spanish brand Larios and Japanese gin Roku.

Sipsmith was founded in 2009 by Sam Galsworthy and Fairfax Hall.

From January 2019 to June 2019, Beam Suntory reported that sales of Sipsmith grew by double digits.

Last month, Sipsmith kicked off its new “experimental” Sipping Series with the release of a chilli and lime-flavoured gin.

Campari Group and Bulldog

In February 2017, Italian drinks firm Campari Group announced its intention to acquire Bulldog Gin for US$58.4 million.

The group took on distribution for Bulldog in 2014 as part of a five-year agreement, which included the option to acquire the brand in 2020.

At the time of the announcement, Campari Group CEO Bob Kunze-Concewitz said: “This deal is an opportunity to consolidate our presence as a key player in the attractive super-premium gin category via a super-premium brand with significant growth potential. By gaining full control of Bulldog Gin’s marketing, strategy and brand building initiatives, we are strongly positioned to exploit the brand’s full potential.”

According to the company’s 2019 full-year financial results, Bulldog reported a net sales loss of 3.4%, mainly due to Spain, Belgium and the UK, as well as “strong competition in the gin category”.

Zamora Company and Martin Miller’s

In January 2018, Spanish drinks group Zamora Company made its first foray into gin with the purchase of a majority stake in Martin Miller’s Gin.

Launched by The Reformed Spirits Company in 1999, Martin Miller’s Gin is distilled in pot stills in England and shipped to Iceland, where it is mixed with Icelandic spring water.

Martin Miller’s Gin is celebrating its 20^th anniversary this year, and as part of its plans to mark the milestone occasion the brand released its first seasonal expression in May: Martin Miller’s Summerful Gin.

Ryan Reynolds and Aviation Gin

One surprising move for the industry was actor Ryan Reynolds‘ purchase of the Aviation Gin brand in February 2018.

Oregon-made Aviation Gin was bought by Davos Brands in 2016. The brand first launched in 2006 as part of a collaboration between bartender Ryan Magarian and House Spirits Distillery.

Deadpool actor Reynolds has taken a front seat promoting the firm, and has recruited famous faces such as Hugh Jackman to boost its profile.

The brand is also targeting the UK market with a multi-million-pound investment and recently named Proof Drinks as its distributor.

Mast-Jägermeister UK and Gin Sul

In July 2018, Mast-Jägermeister made its first “strategic investment” in an external brand by acquiring a stake in German producer Gin Sul.

In February last year, Mast-Jaegermeister UK took on the marketing and distribution of the German brand nationwide.

Founded by Stephan Garbe in 2013, Gin Sul is distilled in Hamburg, Germany, in small batches in a 100-litre copper still using ingredients from Portugal, including lemon, gum rockrose, juniper, rosemary, coriander, rose blossoms, lavender and cinnamon.

Lion and Four Pillars

In March 2019, Australian brand Four Pillars gin sold a 50% stake in its business to Australasian food and beverage marketing company Lion.

Four Pillars’ founders Stuart Gregor, Cameron Mackenzie and Matt Jones hoped the investment from Lion would help the brand realise its global ambitions.

In July last year, Four Pillars entered into a UK distribution deal with Cask Liquid Marketing.

Pernod Ricard and Malfy

In June last year, French firm Pernod Ricard acquired Italian super-premium gin Malfy from New York-based Biggar & Leith for an undisclosed sum.

Malfy joined the company’s standalone business, The Gin Hub. The range consists of four variants – Originale, Con Limone, Con Arancia and Gin Rosa – and is currently available in more than 30 markets, including the US, UK and Germany.

Speaking at a Pernod Ricard briefing in London last year, Louise Ryan, managing director of The Gin Hub, said Malfy was “already selling almost 100,000 cases worldwide”.

She added: “We’re really excited about the prospects for Malfy within our portfolio. We really think that Pernod Ricard is perfectly positioned with our great route-to-market capability to unlock the next phase of growth for this super brand.”

Brown-Forman and Fords Gin

Also in June 2019, Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman moved into the super-premium gin category with the purchase of Fords Gin maker The 86 Company.

The recipe for Fords Gin was created as part of a collaboration between Simon Ford and Charles Maxwell, of Thames Distillers. Made with a traditional base of juniper and coriander, the gin is steeped for 15 hours before distillation.

“Fords Gin is a unique brand with terrific momentum in one of the fastest growing categories in spirits,” Lawson Whiting, president and CEO of Brown-Forman, said at the time of the announcement. “We look forward to building Fords Gin into another iconic brand in our portfolio.”

Pernod Ricard and The Kyoto Distillery

In March 2020, Pernod Ricard made a “significant investment” in Japan’s Kyoto Distillery, the producer of Ki No Bi gin. The deal will also include building a new state-of-the-art distillery.

The investment was made as part of Pernod Ricard’s Transform and Accelerate strategic plan and will also be used to help The Kyoto Distillery “meet growing demand” for Ki No Bi gin.

The ultra-premium brand joined the company’s Gin Hub, sitting alongside the likes of Beefeater, Plymouth, Malfy and Monkey 47.

The Kyoto Distillery was established in Kyoto in 2014 by Marcin Miller and the distillery’s CEO, David Croll. It was Japan’s first dedicated gin distillery.

This month, Kyoto Distillery officially opened its first brand home, called The House of Ki No Bi.

Pernod Ricard and Monkey 47

Later in March 2020, Pernod Ricard continued its acquisition streak by purchasing the remaining stake in Monkey 47 gin for an undisclosed sum.

Pernod Ricard initially bought a majority stake in ultra-premium brand Monkey 47 in 2016.

Earlier this month, Pernod Ricard marked 10 years of Monkey 47 with the launch of six anniversary bottles to raise money for endangered primates.