Scottish Luxury Goods Group Acquires the Country’s First Fully Operating Zero-Proof Distillery

(Photo: Feragaia)

Scottish luxury goods group Chanrossa has purchased a majority stake in Feragaia, Scotland’s first fully operating zero-proof distillery.

The acquisition will bring Feragaia under the umbrella of R&B Distillers, best known for Isle of Raasay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Gin. Though the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, the companies say that the cash injection will allow Feragaia to scale up production and expand worldwide.

Founded in 2019 by Jamie Wild and Bill Garnock, Feragaia is best known for its namesake nonalcoholic spirit, a riff on gin that makes use of 12 land and sea botanicals including lemon verbena, blackcurrant leaf, kaffir lime and ancho chiles. Bottles are available online at a suggested retail price of £26.35 ($34.60).

William Dobbie, managing director at R&B Distillers, said in a news release: “We are extremely excited to add Feragaia to our portfolio and continue towards our goal of creating Scotland’s leading new wave spirits and drinks business.”

“Our brands are all about creating a more progressive and inclusive drinking experience across categories, while delivering supreme quality on every occasion. By adding Feragaia, whose values align perfectly with ours, we enhance our portfolio of like-minded brands and accelerate our bold, global growth plans.”

Chanrossa is the latest in a wave of liquor industry veterans betting on the future of nonalcoholic beverages, a once-niche category now on track to reach a market value of $5 billion in the U.S. by 2028. Last year, British conglomerate Diageo purchased Ritual Zero Proof, the largest nonalcoholic spirits brand in America. Months later, Constellation Brands — importer of Corona beer and owner of High West Whiskey — splashed into the industry with the minority stake acquisition of Hiyo, a zero-proof social tonic.