Sazerac Company, Inc., is a privately held American alcoholic beverage company headquartered in Metairie in the metropolitan area of New Orleans, Louisiana, but with its principal office in Louisville, Kentucky. The company is owned by William Goldring and his family. As of 2017, it operated nine distilleries, had 2,000 employees, and operated in 112 countries. It is one of the two largest spirits companies in the United States, with annual revenue of about $1 billion made from selling about 300 beverage brands.
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History
The company was founded in 1869 after the purchase by Thomas H. Handy of the Sazerac Coffee House, a bar and importer of a brand of cognac named Sazerac de Forge. The coffee house itself had been established in 1850. After its purchase, Handy's company began to acquire and market more brands of liquor. According to the company, the Sazerac Coffee House had been named after a cocktail called the Sazerac that was created in the mid-1800s by the immigrant Antoine Amédée Peychaud, who operated a pharmacy on Royal Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans in 1838. The company publishes a Sazerac recipe and produces a Peychaud's Bitters named after Peychaud, which is an ingredient in the traditional Sazerac cocktail.
William Goldring began buying shares of the company in 1984, and eventually purchased the entire company.
In 2009, the company's principal office was moved to Louisville, Kentucky, reflecting an increased company focus on bourbon whiskey production. However, the Sazerac Company still maintains an active presence in the New Orleans area, and it also has operations in Carson and Loomis, California; Baltimore, Maryland; Chicago, Illinois; Bardstown, Frankfort, and Owensboro, Kentucky; Fredericksburg, Virginia; Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Lewiston, Maine; Londonderry, New Hampshire; Newport, Tennessee; and Segonzac, France.
In 2014, Sazerac announced the creation of the Bond & Royal Company, located in Chicago, Illinois, to take over the specialty and craft segment of its brands from the Gemini Spirits and Wine portfolio including Dimmi, an Italian liqueur, and the Casa San Matias, manufacturer of Corazón tequila.
In 2016, the company had an estimated revenue of $1 billion per year and a market valuation estimate of $4.5 billion. The valuation placed Goldring in the Bloomberg Billionaires Index with an estimated net worth of $3.9 billion.
In October 2019, Sazerac opened The Sazerac House, a museum and distillery in New Orleans.
Acquisitions and partnerships
In 1989, Sazerac acquired several brands from Seagram, including McAfee's Benchmark and Eagle Rare (Kentucky straight bourbon), Nikolai (vodka), Dr. McGillicuddy's, (liqueur) and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.
In 1992, Sazerac acquired the George T. Stagg Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky, at which time the company's primary focus became the production of bourbon whiskey, a product that is primarily distilled, aged, and bottled in Kentucky, later changing its name to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in 1999.
In 1994, Sazerac acquired Monsieur Henri, a wine and specialty spirits company. In 2007, it was announced that they were changing its name to Gemini Spirits and Wine; it is headquartered in Loomis, California.
In 1999, Sazerac acquired the W.L. Weller bourbon brands.
In 2002, Sazerac entered an agreement with the Van Winkle family to produce its Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve and Old Rip Van Winkle bourbon and rye whisky brands at its Buffalo Trace Distillery.
In 2003, Sazerac acquired the A. Smith Bowman Distillery, located in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Virginia Gentleman, a bourbon whiskey, is distilled there.
In March 2009, Sazerac completed its acquisition of Constellation Brands value-priced spirit assets. The purchase included Very Old Barton and several other bourbon brands, a distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky, and a bottling and warehousing facility in Owensboro, Kentucky. In June 2009, Sazerac acquired the Old Taylor Bourbon label and barrel inventory from Beam Global Spirits & Wine, now known as Suntory Global Spirits
In June 2009, Sazerac sold Effen Vodka to Fortune Brands. After a restructuring of Fortune Brands and an acquisition by Suntory, Effen has since become a Suntory Global Spirits brand.
In September 2011, Sazerac entered into an agreement with Corby Distilleries Limited, to purchase 17 Corby owned brands as part of the agreement made with the other brands acquired from Corby Distilleries Limited. The deal also included shares of Corby's manufacturing and bottling facilities in Montreal. The distillery was eventually renamed as the Old Montreal Distillery, and distillation of new spirit was resumed there.
Distilleries
United States
A. Smith Bowman Distillery – Fredericksburg, Virginia
Barton 1792 Distillery – Bardstown, Kentucky
Buffalo Trace Distillery – Frankfort, Kentucky
Glenmore Distillery – Owensboro, Kentucky
Northwest Ordinance Distilling – New Albany, Indiana
Canada
Canadian Mist Distillery – Collingwood, Ontario
Old Montréal Distillery – Montreal, Quebec
France
Domaine Sazerac de Segonzac – Segonzac
India
Paul John Distillery – Cuncolim, Goa
Brands
Sazerac beverage brands include:
Bourbon whiskey: 1792 Ridgemont Reserve, Ancient Age, Blanton's, Bowman Brothers, Buffalo Trace, E.H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, Elmer T. Lee, George T. Stagg, Hancock's President's Reserve, Kentucky Gentleman, Kentucky Tavern, McAfee's Benchmark, O.F.C. Vintages, Old Charter, Old Rip Van Winkle, Old Taylor, Pappy Van Winkle's Family Reserve, Rock Hill Farms, Very Old Barton, Virginia Gentleman, W. L. Weller
Kentucky whiskey: Early Times
Rye whiskey: Sazerac Rye
Blended whiskey: Barton Premium Blend, Mister Sam, Old Thompson, Ten High, Traveller
Canadian whisky: Canadian Mist, Collingwood, Caribou Crossing, Legacy, Rich & Rare, Seagram's V.O., The Northern Lights
Indian whisky: Paul John
Irish whiskey: Michael Collins, Paddy
Scotch whisky: John Begg
Bitter: Bittermens, Merchants Exchange, Peychaud's
Brandy: Paul Masson
Cognac: Sazerac de Forge
Gin: Booth's, Miles', Tinkerman's
Liqueur: Buffalo Trace Distillery Bourbon Cream, Caravella, di Amore, Dimmi, Dr. McGillicuddy's, Firewater, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Goldschläger, Gran Gala, Grind, Herbsaint, Praline, Romana Sambuca, Ryan's Irish Style Cream, Southern Comfort, Tuaca, Yukon Jack, 99 Brand
Mezcal: Los Vecinos
Rum: Black Magic, Cane Run, Jung & Wulff, Myers's, Parrot Bay