Ramón Bilbao owner buys stake in US whiskey Yellow Rose

Spain’s Zamora Company, which owns brands including Licor 43, Ramón Bilbao and Villa Massa Limoncello, has entered the American whiskey category having purchased a stake in the Texas-based craft whiskey brand Yellow Rose.

“Yellow Rose Distilling is on the forefront of the whiskey boom, and we look forward to the continued growth of our brand across both U.S. and International markets with the help of our new partner,” said Yellow Rose Distilling Founder and President Ryan Baird. “With this new investment we can take Yellow Rose to the next level by expanding our production, growing our aged whiskey stock and improving our marketing capabilities.”

Founded in 2010, Yellow Rose Distilling is thought to be the first legal distillery and tasting room in the Houston city limits, and specialises in hand-crafted, blended and bottled premium whiskeys.

“We have been looking into the burgeoning U.S. whiskey market for some time now, and we are ecstatic to be able to incorporate Yellow Rose into our growing global portfolio,” added Zamora Company managing director Emilio Restoy. “We are excited about the prospects and trajectory of the Yellow Rose brand, and we are committed to significantly increasing the investment to further the Yellow Rose footprint.”

Yellow Rose Distilling’s founder and its full staff will remain at the helm and will continue to manage the production, sales and marketing activities.

The size of the stake acquired or the value of the deal was not disclosed. It follows the company’s complete acquisition of Villa Massa Limoncello.