USA, CA: Californian distillery Savage & Cooke acquired by company behind Redwood Empire Whiskey

The company behind Redwood Empire Whiskey has acquired Californian distillery Savage & Cooke to increase its production, The Spirits Business reported on January 2.

Californian whiskey Redwood Empire is part of the Purple Brands portfolio of wine and spirits, which was founded by Derek Benham in 2001.

Benham said the acquisition of Savage & Cooke would enable his whiskey business to ‘meet soaring demand’ and create a visitor destination for Redwood Empire.

“Our goal has always been to produce exceptional spirits, and with this new distillery, we’re positioning ourselves to do just that on a larger scale,” added Benham, who established the Redwood Empire brand in 2014.

The whiskey is made at a distillery in Granton, California. The range includes bottled-in-bond whiskeys, single barrel bottlings and cask-strength expressions.

In 2024, the brand’s volumes soared by 30% to 55,000 nine-litre cases.

Aaron Webb, CEO of Purple Brands, believes the acquisition will “solidify Redwood Empire’s position as a serious American whiskey player”.

“Demand for our offerings has far exceeded our production capacity for several years,” he continued. This move solves that challenge, but it’s not just about expansion – it’s about preserving our tradition of excellence while pushing the boundaries of what we can create.”

Savage & Cooke was founded in 2018 by Dave Phinney, creator of The Prisoner and Orin Swift wine brands, as his first spirits venture.

It followed Phinney’s sale of The Prisoner to High West Whiskey owner Constellation Brands for US$285 million and Orin Swift to California-based Gallo for US$300m in 2016.

Savage & Cooke produces a range of whiskeys aged in wine casks, and bottled cocktails.

Redwood Empire will move production to the Savage & Cooke distillery, which is located in Mare Island on a former naval base north of San Francisco. The Redwood Empire team will transition to the new site by the end of January 2025.

The Savage & Cooke distillery has supported Redwood Empire in recent years with additional whiskey production.

In addition to the distillery, the acquisition also includes all spirits brand assets, a barrel room, tasting room, bar, restaurant and event space.

During the transition period, the distillery and restaurant will remain open for tours and tastings.

Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

Last month, Constellation Brands agreed to sell Svedka to Sazerac, marking its exit from the vodka category.

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