Constellation Brands, Inc. said acquired Copper & Kings American Brandy Co. producer of highly differentiated American Brandy, absinthe, gin, and Destillaré liqueurs, with a tasting room and restaurant located in the heart of Bourbon Country in Louisville, Ky. Terms weren’t disclosed.
”As an innovative distillery regarded for its experimental attitude and highly rated craft spirits, Copper & Kings American Brandy represents a significant growth opportunity for us and reinforces our continued commitment to premium spirits,” said Bill Newlands, president and chief executive officer, Constellation Brands.
“American Craft Brandy is a fast-growing category that resonates with consumers, specifically among whiskey drinkers, and provides an excellent bridge between fine wine and craft bourbon. Copper & Kings’ prime location in Bourbon Country also presents an opportunity for Constellation to drive brand awareness and further expand the brand’s direct-to-consumer and retail routes to market.”
Copper & Kings American Brandy was initially a minority investment through Constellation’s venture capital group. Since 2017, Constellation and Copper & Kings have been working to gain a deeper knowledge of the American Craft Brandy category and increase awareness and distribution of the Copper & Kings brand.
“With entrepreneurship and quality being part of Constellation’s core values, it’s gratifying to see those values come to life through our first full Ventures acquisition in Copper & Kings,” said Jennifer Evans, vice president of Constellation Ventures. “When making a Ventures investment, we look for brands that want to push boundaries, grow with consumers, and expand their current markets. Copper & Kings checks all those boxes, and we look forward to integrating them into our wine and spirits portfolio.”
Copper & Kings American Brandy was founded in 2014 by beverage industry entrepreneurs Joe and Lesley Heron, and uses small batch copper pot-distillation and unconventional methods, like sonic aging and solera blending, to craft a variety of non-traditional and highly innovative spirits.