Through the company’s New Brand Ventures division in the US, Pernod Ricard announced that it signed an agreement to take a majority stake in Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal. The company is the leading producer of artisanal, hand-crafted mezcals and the number one mezcal brand in the US. The transaction is expected to close within 90 days and is subject to condition precedents.
Del Maguey Single Village Mezcal was founded in 1995 by artist and entrepreneur Ron Cooper. It features a range of hand-crafted super-premium mezcals from the Oaxaca region of Mexico. Created from a traditional process rooted in Zapotec culture, the “Single Village” name identifies every Del Maguey product by the village in which it is made.
Under the terms of the transaction, the management team of Ron Cooper, Michael Gardner, Steve Olson, and the rest of the Del Maguey team will remain in place. All of Del Maguey’s Mexico operations will remain intact as well.
According to International Wine & Spirits Research, global sales of mezcal rose to a record USD 80 million in 2015, and and the United States volumes jumped 279% between 2005 and 2015.