WHYTE & MACKAY MOVES INTO THE U.S.

Despite continued speculation surrounding a possible acquisition of U.K. distiller Whyte & Mackay by India’s UB Group, the British distiller is making deeper inroads into the U.S. Gemini Spirits & Wine announced a distribution deal earlier this week with Whyte & Mackay despite their somewhat irregular presence in the U.S. in the past.

Owned by U.S. spirits group Sazerac, Gemini will handle Whyte & Mackay’s namesake blended scotch and Jura single malt, which the company hopes to give a more premium positioning. Whyte & Mackay also reportedly plans to make the U.S. a much higher priority among its markets.

The deal with Gemini does not cover Dalmore, a third flagship Scotch whisky in the Whyte & Mackay stable, because Beam Global currently holds the U.S. license and distribution right to the brand.