Northern Irish whiskey acquired by US Luxco
US-based spirits group Luxco has acquired a new Irish whiskey distillery in Derry after purchasing a controlling stake in long-term partner Niche Drinks, manufacturer of Irish cream liqueurs including the award-winning St Brendan's, among the best-known and most successful brands.
Luxco, headquartered in St Louis, Missouri, purchased a controlling interest in Derry-based Niche Drinks for an undisclosed sum, increasing its global production footprint.
Niche Drinks has produced Luxco's St. Brendan's Irish Cream brand for a number of years, while both companies collaborate on The Quiet Man Irish whiskey.
Niche Drinks, headed by Ciaran Mulgrew, sources and ages Irish whiskey for The Quiet Man and also produces cream liqueurs, Irish coffee and ready-to-drink cocktails.
The small company has developed award-winning single malt and blended whiskey and has won business in almost 30 export markets for the products.
Donn Lux, chairman and CEO Luxco, a family-owned company, said: "This is a very exciting time for Luxco and Niche. We have worked closely with Ciaran and his team for more than 30 years, spending a lot of time in Derry over that time, so it is great to welcome everyone at Niche Drinks into the Luxco family."
In 2017, Niche Drinks received approval to build a £15 million Irish whiskey distilleryin Derry's Ebrington Square. Both Luxco and Niche Drinks representatives recently met with Northern Ireland's Strategic Investment Board to discuss the project. The distillery is set for completion later this year.
Luxco recently opened a new distillery, called Lux Row Distillers, in Bardstown, Kentucky. Luxco produces the Ezra Brooks, Rebel Yell, David Nicholson and Blood Oath Bourbon brands, and also owns an equity interest in Limestone Branch Distillery.
The firm has almost completed a new tequila distillery llocated outside the city of Arandas in the highlands of Jalisco. The distillery, called Destiladora González Luxco, has been launched in partnership with 100 percent agave Tequila maker Destiladora González González.
