FDBusiness.com

Bacardi, the largest privately held spirits company in the world, has acquired St-Germain, the super premium elderflower liqueur. The terms of the deal were not disclosed.

St-Germain is a hand-crafted artisanal French liqueur made from 100% fresh, hand-selected elderflowers that blossom in Europe once a year, during a four-to-six week period in late spring. When picked, they are swiftly delivered to small collection stations where harvesters are paid by the kilo for their flowers, often using specially rigged bicycles to carry them. This allows each harvester to work independently. The blossoms are quickly macerated to capture freshness and enhance the fruit-driven character of the elderflowers.

“St-Germain is one of the most exciting brands in the industry today. Since its launch only six years ago as a modern liqueur with a delicious and distinctive taste, St-Germain has stayed true to its French craftsmanship, engaged the bartending community in a way that few spirits brands have, and won some of the industry’s most prestigious awards,” says Facundo L Bacardi, Chairman of Bacardi.

Heralded as “one of the most influential cocktail components introduced in the last decade” (The New York Times, December 2009) and the go-to ingredient for top mixologists, St-Germain is currently available in all 50 states in the United States and has a growing presence in international markets.

In acquiring St-Germain, one of the fastest-growing spirits brands in the United States, Bacardi is enhancing its portfolio. The Bacardi brand portfolio comprises more than 200 brands and labels, including Bacardi rum, the world’s best-selling and most-awarded rum; Grey Goose vodka, the world’s leading super-premium vodka; Dewar’s blended Scotch whisky, the number-one selling premium blended Scotch whisky in the United States; Bombay Sapphire gin, the top-valued and fastest-growing premium gin in the world; Martini vermouth and sparkling wines, the world’s leading vermouth and the world’s favorite Italian sparkling wines; and other leading and emerging brands.

Founded more than 150 years ago in Santiago de Cuba, and family-owned for the past seven generations, Bacardi now employs nearly 6,000 people, manufactures its brands at 27 facilities in 16 markets on four continents, and sells in more than 150 countries.

“Bacardi looks for the most influential innovations in the industry to add to our portfolio – it’s really in our DNA,” says Barry Kabalkin, Vice Chairman of Bacardi. “St-Germain is set to follow other successful Bacardi acquisitions of cutting-edge brands – Grey Goose super-premium vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin and Patron tequila, in which Bacardi owns a significant minority stake.”