Artisanal Spirits Company buys US bottler

The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC), owner of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), has acquired US-based independent bottler Single Cask Nation.

Single Cask Nation has a global base of 10,000 whisky drinkers with the US being its largest market.

The company curates and bottles limited edition whiskies and other spirits for sale both online and through specialty on- and off-premise accounts in eight key markets that – beyond the US – includes the UK, Germany, Sweden, Japan, Israel and Canada.

CEO of ASC Andrew Dane said: “We are thrilled to welcome Single Cask Nation to our family of brands at Artisanal Spirits Company, alongside The Scotch Malt Whisky Society and JG Thomson & Co.

“This acquisition aligns with our ambition to thoughtfully expand the portfolio while staying true to our core mission to captivate a global community of whisky adventurers with rare and exceptional bottlings.

“This is also very much an investment in Jason and Joshua themselves who have cultivated a global following and stellar reputation as thought leaders in the world of whisky. They will both add a tremendous wealth of knowledge, experience and passion to our business and we’re looking forward to welcoming them and their followers to the family.”

ASC also owns membership organisation the SMWS, and the company says the move will not impact its operations there.

Co-founders of Single Cask Nation, Jason Johnstone-Yellin and Joshua Hatton, will continue to run the business with strategic and tactical support provided by whiskey industry veteran Steve Hawley.

Hawley is president of the American Single Malt Whiskey Commission and former vice-president of global marketing for Westland Distillery in Seattle.

“In a way, by joining Artisanal Spirits Company we’re coming full-circle in our whisky journey”, said Johnstone-Yellin. “It was actually the Scotch Malt Whisky Society that first inspired us to start an independent bottling business in the first place. We’ve admired them (and their whiskies) for years, so to be a sister brand to them now is pretty wild.”

Hatton, meanwhile, added: “Jason and I have certainly never been short on ideas. With the resources and wealth of experience to draw from at Artisanal Spirits Company, we’ll now be able to bring those ideas to life and more incredible whisky to the Nation. I can’t wait for everyone to see what’s coming next.”

The ASC reported a 7% rise in revenue for the second quarter of 2023.

In October, SMWS – the world’s biggest whisky club – set a world record for the biggest online whisky tasting with drams shared in over 15 countries.