Rémy completes Westland Distillery deal

French drinks producer Rémy Cointreau has completed its acquisition of the Seattle-based Westland Distillery, furthering its reach within the growing American single malt whiskey category.

The Westland Distillery in Seattle also hosts weddings

Sales of American whiskey and Scotch have remained strong in the US, with a trend for premium whiskies, in particular single malts, helping to drive the spirits category to its 19th straight year of volume gains, rising to 221.6m nine-litre cases in 2015, up 28.7% from 10 years ago.

Rémy’s move further into the American whiskey category comes following reports that it had enjoyed “remarkable” sales in the US throughout 2016, as well as “solid” sales throughout other global markets in the first half of last year.

This purchase demonstrates its commitment to the growing “American-style” single malt category – a movement that the Westland Distillery is considered to be a “vanguard of”.

“Westland’s high provenance whiskeys reflect the singular character of the Pacific Northwest terroir, from natural world-class ingredients, to traditional distillation methods and an ageing process in new varietals of oak, in an ideally humid environment for the maturation of whiskey,” said Valérie Chapoulaud-Floquet, CEO of the Rémy Cointreau.

Based in Seattle, Westland ages its American whiskeys in oak, with the Pacific Northwest providing a humid environment for the natural maturation of their signature single malt.

Currently, the distillery produces three flagship malts: American Single Malt Whiskey, Peated American Single Malt Whiskey, and Sherry Wood American Single Malt Whiskey.

“We are confident the Rémy Cointreau Group can help this exceptional brand live up to its potential, by developing it further across the United States before expanding it globally in the future.”

Master Distiller and Westland co-Founder Matt Hofmann added: “Not only will we be maintaining and expanding our vision for Westland and the American single malt whiskey category, but we will have the assistance and guidance from a strategic partner whose philosophy so perfectly aligns with our own. With the assistance of the Rémy Cointreau team, we’re very much looking forward to sharing this vision with more people around the world for years to come.”

The deal follows the company’s acquisition of Scotch distillery Bruichladdich in 2012 and French single malt whisky distillery Domaine des Hautes Glaces yesterday.

Rémy Cointreau’s global brands include Rémy Martin and Louis XIII cognacs, Cointreau liqueur, and Mount Gay rum.