Brown-Forman buys ‘Mediterranean-inspired’ Spanish gin brands

06-Sep-2022 - Last updated on 06-Sep-2022 at 12:59 GMT

The gin is made near Spain's Costa Brava. Pic:getty/eloiomella

Related tags Brown-forman corporation Gin Spain

Brown-Forman Corporation will buy the Gin Mare brands from Spanish companies Vantguard and MG Destilerías: adding the gins to its super-premium portfolio.

Gin Mare was founded in 2010 by the Giró Family of MG Destilerías (a Spanish gin maker with the flagship brand Gin MG) and Alfonso Morodo and Antonio Pardo of Vantguard (a Spanish brand innovator and global spirits distributor). Today, it is sold in more than 70 countries and is the largest ultra-premium gin brand in the world, according to IWSR.

Gin Mare is made with a ‘Mediterranean-inspired recipe of botanicals’, including Arbequina olives, thyme, rosemary, and basil. Gin Mare Capri, introduced last year, is made with Italian bergamot and lemons, along with Gin Mare’s four principal botanicals.

Jack Daniels maker Brown-Forman says the acquisition allows it to continue to expand its premium portfolio: following other buys such as Fords Gin in 2019 and BenRiach in 2016.

“Gin Mare and Gin Mare Capri are unique gin brands with impressive sales growth and strong distribution in important European markets. They are excellent complements to Brown-Forman’s super-premium portfolio,” said Lawson Whiting, President and CEO, Brown-Forman Corporation. “We believe this exciting acquisition enhances our capacity to deliver meaningful global growth for the long term.”

Gin Mare will continue to be produced at MG Destilerías in Vilanova i la Geltrú, a ﬁshing village between the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada. The distillery, located about 50 kilometers outside of Barcelona in an old fishing village, includes a custom-made still housed within an 18th century chapel.