1792 Ridgemont Reserve and Buffalo Trace were once bourbon drinking buddies, but not exactly cousins or brothers. Now after a $334 million dollar transaction between Sazerac and Constellation Brands Inc., these two bourbons are little closer. The New Orleans-based Sazerac Company is the parent company to Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort and has brands in their portfolio including Pappy Van Winkle, George T. Stagg and Eagle Rare. Sazerac acquires Bardstown’s Tom Moore Distillery the old Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro, and more than 40 other brands from Constellation. Constellation still has many brands such as Svedka Vodka and a large wine portfolio that they will keep.
So what does Sazerac receive in this deal? First, the historic Tom Moore Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky which was founded by Tom Moore in 1879. Bourbons such as Kentucky Gentleman, Kentucky Tavern, Ten High, Very Old Barton and other labels come out of the Tom Moore Distillery. In addition, the Glenmore Distilleries in Owensboro, Ky. Glenmore has a state of the art state-of-the-art bottling and warehousing operation. Buffalo Trace says it will compliment their award-winning Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort.
I spoke with Angela Traver, Public Relations Manager at Buffalo Trace Distillery/Sazerac and asked her if there are any plans of making changes to the bourbon brands that they are acquiring “We have no plans of changing any of the bourbons at the Tom Moore Distillery,” says Traver. “If anything would happen, it would be looking at creating something new. It will take us a while be wrap our arms around all that is happening with the acquisition.”
The acquisition will allow Sazerac to help move one of Kentucky’s signature industries forward, as the work of expanding sales of bourbon whiskey to overseas markets begins in earnest.
Tom Moore Distillery, Bardstown, Kentucky – photo courtesy Ann McMichael, Taste of Bourbon