Spirits Giant Diageo Just Sold This Scotch Whisky Brand to a Korean Investment Firm

Diageo logo seen on a smartphone and a pc screen in the background. (Photo by Pavlo Gonchar / SOPA Images/Sipa USA)(Sipa via AP Images)

Diageo, the Goliath spirits company whose portfolio contains myriad notable brands including Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray, Guinness, Smirnoff, Captain Morgan and many others, has completed the sale of one of its many scotch brands.

Diageo announced the sale of Windsor, a blended scotch whisky brand, for an undisclosed sum Friday. One hundred percent of the Windsor Global shares are heading to South Korean investment firm sponsored by Pine Tree Investment & Management Co.

“This transaction reflects Diageo’s disciplined approach to capital allocation and further highlights our continued track-record of active portfolio management,” John O’Keeffe, president, Asia Pacific, Global Travel and India for Diageo, said in a news release. “We remain fully committed to Korea and our international spirits and beer business. Our position in the market remains strong as premiumisation trends persist and consumer interest in categories like international whisky continues to grow.”

In March 2022, Diageo announced it would sell Windsor to a different South Korean investment firm for 200 billion Korean won ($148.33 million),  but the deal ended up falling through.

In September, Diageo unveiled its new Special Releases scotch whisky collection, debuting with eight single malts from its varying brands.

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