Bacardi Acquires Full Control Of Ilegal Mezcal

Bacardi Ltd has announced the completion of a deal that makes the company the sole owner of Ilegal mezcal. No terms were disclosed, but earlier this year Bloomberg reported that Bacardi was closing in on a deal to acquire Ilegal, with the price expected to be less than $200 million. Bacardi already had a minority stake in Ilegal, but the brand has continued to operate independently, reaching 87,000 9-liter cases on 85% growth in the U.S. last year, according to Impact Databank.

“We believe that Ilegal has the credentials to own and lead the super-premium mezcal category at a global level. Ilegal perfectly complements our portfolio and bringing it into our business sets the brand up for even greater growth as mezcal captivates more and more consumers,” said Barry Kabalkin, vice chairman of Bacardi Limited.

“Bacardi at the helm will allow more people to enjoy this very unique spirit from a very special culture,” Ilegal founder John Rexer told SND. “Ilegal Mezcal has been successful because it is more than just a liquor brand. It is about friendships built across the bar, a sharing of cultures, and a love of things that take time to perfect. It’s also about having a good time. We are looking forward to shaking things up in a much bigger way.”

Rexer founded the brand in 2006, and it’s grown into one of the leaders of the rising mezcal segment in the U.S. The portfolio includes Joven; Reposado, aged six months in medium-charred American oak; and Añejo, aged 13 months using a combination of new and used American oak, medium char barrels.

Earlier this year, Rexer told SND the brand’s growth has continued as more U.S. consumers discover the category. “It’s quite exciting to see the broader market really embrace mezcal,” he said. “A good indication of this are national chains which are now bringing in Ilegal, as well as our growth in the secondary markets like Georgia and New Jersey.”

Total mezcal exports to the U.S. reached 868,000 cases last year, according to Impact Databank, up from just 57,000 cases a decade earlier. In addition to Ilegal, other leading brands in the space include Pernod Ricard’s Del Maguey and independent Banhez, while Diageo, Campari, Proximo, and Beam Suntory are also on the move in the space.

“Bacardi and Ilegal have a shared commitment to communities, quality, and environmental sustainability that we will build upon together as we look to invest for the long term,” said Bacardi CEO Mahesh Madhavan. —Daniel Marsteller

Tagged : Bacardi Ltd., Banhez, Del Maguey, Ilegal Mezcal

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