Liquid Asset Brands LLC & Spirits Investment Partners LLC Makes $14 Million Investment in Stolen Spirits
Boutique Spirits Brand Founded in New Zealand Set to Expand World’s
First Smoked Rum to U.S. Market
CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Chicago-based Liquid
Asset Brands LLC (“LAB”) and Spirits Investment Partners LLC (“SIP”)
announced today that they have made a US $14 million investment in Stolen
Spirits (“STOLEN”), for a majority stake in the business.
STOLEN, an independent spirits company founded in Auckland, New Zealand,
currently produces four internationally awarded innovative rums,
including the world’s first smoked rum. The partnership with LAB/SIP
provides expertise and significant growth capital for expansion of the
Company’s portfolio, including a smoked whiskey, several unique rum
releases and other new products under development.
LAB brings a wealth of alcohol industry knowledge and business expertise
to STOLEN, particularly in the challenging and competitive United States
market. LAB is led by Marc Bushala, a seasoned marketing and spirits
entrepreneur and the Managing Partner of MAB
Capital Management LLC. This investment comes on the heels of the
recent sale of Louisville-based Angel’s Share Brands LLC, (Angel’s Envy
Bourbon and Angel’s Envy Rye) to Bacardi Limited for an undisclosed
amount. Bushala was a founding partner of Angel’s Envy.
“I am thrilled with our investment in STOLEN. We consider it to be one
of the best emerging spirit brands to come to market in the last few
years,” said Bushala. “We love STOLEN’s unique brand positioning and
their innovation in the rum category. We are also excited to work with
the STOLEN team to expand the brand portfolio.”
Started in 2010 out of a one-bedroom flat by Jamie Duff and Roger
Holmes, STOLEN has seen exponential growth and cult status in its home
market of New Zealand and in Australia. Beginning in early 2016 , STOLEN
Smoked Rum will be launched in key U.S. states, including NY, FL, CA, MA
and IL, with a sustained nationwide rollout.
For this rum, STOLEN works with a world-class distillery in Trinidad &
Tobago from where they take column-distilled rum, aged in ex-whiskey
barrels in the Caribbean, and add a combination of the best natural
ingredients from around the world – including refractionated Arabica
coffee beans from Columbia, vanilla from Madagascar and fenugreek from
Morocco. This rum is then ‘smoked’ using American Hardwood – a
re-invention to rum as we know it with a smokiness that is usually
associated with whiskey.
“It was always my dream to take the STOLEN brand to the USA, the most
dynamic spirits market in the world,” said Jamie Duff, STOLEN founder
and Chief Creative Officer. “Marc and his team at LAB are real pro’s,
all smart entrepreneurs at heart and who totally embody the STOLEN
ethos. We’re very fortunate to work with LAB as our global partner,
which will enable us to do everything we want to do with this brand. Not
only expanding into US markets but also developing STOLEN product
extensions.”
LAB continues seek out and review equity investment opportunities in
early stage beverage businesses. For more information, please visit www.liquidassetbrands.com
Notes:
-
Long seen as something of a poor relation in the spirits world, the
rum category is identified as the “next big thing”1 - Flavored and Spiced rums now account for around 53% of all rums sold2
- Spiced rum will continue to grow with new flavor innovations emerging3
Sources:
- IWSR/Just-Drinks, March 2015
- Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS), February 2015
- The Spirits Business – Rum Trends to Watch in 2015 (12/19/14)
Liquid Asset Brands LLC
Liquid Asset Brands actively make investments in early stage beverage
businesses and takes an active role in helping accelerate the growth of
the brands in its portfolio. For more information, please visit www.liquidassetbrands.com
MAB Capital Management, LLC
MAB is a closely held capital management firm focused on making
strategic investments in the real estate, communications, hospitality
and entertainment sectors within the U.S. and abroad. For more
information, please visit www.mabcap.com
Stolen Spirits
(STOLEN) is an independent spirits company started from a one-bedroom
apartment in Auckland, New Zealand in 2010 by Jamie Duff and Roger
Holmes and produces one of the fastest growing rum brands in the world,
Stolen Rum. STOLEN was a dream of Jamie’s after being a proud rum
drinker for many years but embarrassed of the uncool, undifferentiated
rum brands on the market. STOLEN approaches its product development
through re-invention and appropriation, with a punk ethos at it’s core.
Contacts
Ro-Bro Marketing & PR
Aaron Brost, 312-576-5315
aaron@ro-bro.com
