The Molson Coors company recently reached an agreement to purchase whiskey maker Blue Run Spirits.
A statement from Molson Coors noted that this deal is another step in its evolution as a total beverage company, and in turn the deal would bring Blue Run resources needed to continue its growth for the future.
Blue Run is based in Georgetown, Kentucky, and has been on a rising trajectory since the brand’s launch in October of 2020. Blue Run has garnered several awards over the years, including Best Small Batch Bourbon – 11 Years Old & Older and Best Single Barrel Bourbon – 11 Years Old & Older at the 2021 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Blue Run was named the Best High Rye Bourbon at the 2023 New Orleans Spirits Competition.
This is Molson Coors’ first spirits acquisition, and with this move, Molson Coors also established Coors Spirits Co., an expansion of its existing spirits business. This arm of the business will house Blue Run, Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon and whatever comes in the future.
The move also doubles the size of Molson Coors’ spirits team.
Molson Coors’ Chief Commercial Officer Michelle St. Jacques said the company has been on a journey to broaden beyond their beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, “And Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co. Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Run’s well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.”
Right now, you can find Blue Run in 31 states and the brand has three new whiskies set to release this summer and fall.
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This past March, Blue Run announced plans to build a new distillery in Kentucky. Officials with Molson Coors explained that those plans will continue as part of the Molson Coors family.
The announcement noted that Blue Run’s founders, Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight and Andy Brown, will all remain with the brand.
Montgomery will see an expanded role as vice president of Coors Spirits Co.
Bourbon Hall of Famer Jim Rutledge will continue as Blue Run’s distillery consultant and liquid advisor. Shaylyn Gammon will serve as whiskey curator for Coors Spirits Co.
David Coors will continue to lead Molson Coors’ full-strength spirits strategy and business development as executive chair of Coors Spirits Co.
“Since launching Blue Run, we have always strived to do things a little differently to truly embrace today’s younger, more diverse generation of whiskey drinkers,” Montgomery said. “We are humbled by how the whiskey community has embraced our vision and that Molson Coors wants to join and support us in this journey.”
For more information, check out www.molsoncoors.com and www.bluerunspirits.com.
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