Four Roses Bourbon Sale Finalized at a Record $775 Million

(Photo: Four Roses)

E. & J. Gallo Winery has completed its acquisition of Four Roses in a deal valued at up to $775 million, setting a record price for a Kentucky bourbon distillery, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported Thursday.

The transaction was first announced in February. It marks one of the largest deals in the modern American whiskey industry.

Gallo, known best for its popular ready-to-drink brand High Noon, said the purchase brings Four Roses back under U.S. family ownership for the first time in more than 80 years. The brand had been owned by Japan-based Kirin, which invested in rebuilding and expanding the distillery during its tenure.

The company said it plans to maintain continuity across production and personnel. Four Roses’ existing team will remain in place, including master distiller Brent Elliott, who has held the role since 2015.

Elliott said the transition represents “an incredibly exciting chapter for Four Roses and a meaningful milestone in our 138-year history,” according to the Herald-Leader.

Gallo said the acquisition strengthens its position in the spirits category and adds a major bourbon brand to its global portfolio.

“Four Roses is one of the most respected bourbons in the world — defined by heritage and craftsmanship — and Kirin was instrumental in reestablishing the brand as a premium straight whiskey in the U.S.,” Britt West, Gallo’s chief commercial officer, said in a statement. “Gallo has more than five decades of expertise in spirits distillation, maturation, and brand building. We are committed to upholding Four Roses’ quality and building the brand as a cornerstone of our portfolio through increased consumer and trade engagement, innovation, and global expansion.”

Kirin had previously indicated plans to shift focus toward other areas of its business, creating an opening for the sale.

The Four Roses acquisition underscores continued consolidation in the bourbon sector, as global drinks companies seek to expand their portfolios despite broader industry headwinds.