By Andy Young
Stolen Spirits has announced today that it has secured a $19 million investment from Chicago-based Liquid Asset Brands LLC (LAB) and Spirits Investment Partners LLC (SIP).
The investment will see LAB/SIP take a majority stake in the business and will provide Stolen with expertise and significant growth capital for portfolio expansion including a smoked whiskey, several unique rum releases, and other new products under development.
LAB will bring strong alcohol industry knowledge and business expertise to Stolen, particularly in the challenging and competitive United States market. LAB is led by Marc Bushala, who said: "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.
"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.
"It was always my dream to take the Stolen brand to the USA, the most dynamic spirits market in the world,” Duff said. "Marc and his team at LAB are real pros, 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."
Stolen currently produces four rums: Stolen Dark, Stolen Spiced, Stolen Gold and Stolen White.
Kyle Melnyk, Stolen AU/NZ CEO added: "This event is the most important business milestone in our short history. Critical to early stage businesses is growth-capital and expertise; this deal provides Stolen with both. LAB’s cornerstone investment allows Stolen to remain private so we can continue to innovate and stay true to the Stolen ethos of being a disruptive challenger brand."