JACK DANIEL’S OWNER BUYS BENRIACH.

Jack Daniel’s owner Brown-Forman is to purchase The Benriach Distillery Company for £285 million, in a deal that will give the American group its first Scotch whiskies.

The deal will give Brown-Forman control of the GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh single malt distilleries, as well as a bottling plant Broxburn and headquarters in Edinburgh.

The BenRiach Distillery Company, which employs 165 employees, including 55 seasonal and casual workers, will operate as a subsidiary of Brown-Forman.

Paul Varga, CEO for Brown-Forman, said: ‘The acquisition of these super-premium brands will allow Brown-Forman to re-enter one of our industry’s most exciting and consistent growth segments, single malt Scotch whisky.

The GlenDronach, BenRiach and Glenglassaugh single malt brands are rich in history and we believe they will continue to prosper and grow in our hands.’

Billy Walker, managing director of the BenRiach Distillery Company, said: ‘We feel immensely proud to have been custodians of this business for the last 12 years, and to be associated with these wonderful brands and great distilleries.

The deal is not the first time Brown-Forman has held a stake in Scotch whisky.

Brown-Forman was a minority sharegolder in Glenmorangie Company, marketing the single malt brand in the US and Canada, and in Europe and Asia. It sold its stake to Moet Hennessy in 2005.

The US group, which also owns the Woodford Reserve distillery in Kentucky, sold its Tuaca and Southern Comfort brands to Sazerac in March this year for $542.2m.

It's interest in whisky outside the US has been growing steadily over the last few months. Late last year it also bought Slane Castle for $50m.