Spirits company strengthens its globe-trotting credentials

International Beverage, the company behind Scottish brands including Old Pulteney, Balblair and anCnoc, has strengthened its globe-trotting credentials with the acquisition of two overseas spirits businesses. 

The company – which is the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Company – struck separate deals to acquire Cardrona Distillery in New Zealand as well as Cognac brands Larsen, Renault and Monopol.

Previously independent, Cardrona – in New Zealand’s Cardrona Valley – was founded in 2015 and produces Cardrona single malt whisky as well as gin brand The Source, The Reid single malt vodka and the Rose Rabbit liqueurs. 

Cardrona founder Desiree Reid will continue to be managing director of the distillery. 

The Cognac brands, meanwhile, were acquired from Nordic drinks group Anora. 

Larsen, which has been owned by Anora since 2013, was originally founded by a Norwegian explorer, who relocated to France in the 1920s. 

The brand was acquired for €54.1 million and marks the first time International Beverage has moved into the Cognac space. 

On the Cardrona takeover Malcolm Leask, International Beverage’s UK managing director, said the team at the distillery ‘has done an excellent job in building Cardrona’s super-premium brands to date with so much integrity, quality and potential for the future’.

And on the Larsen Cognac deal he said the acquisition ‘marks the start of a new era for International Beverage, and a strategy that will see us add high quality brands across a range of categories and markets to take our business to the next level’.