Campari Group: buys the American brand that produces bourbon

Bob Kunze-Concewitz, CEO of Campari Grouphe stated:

We are delighted to acquire a majority stake in the prestigious Wilderness Trail Distillery. By integrating the super-premium and fast-growing Wilderness Trail brand, we are expanding our bourbon portfolio and making it even more premium, as it prepares to become Campari Group’s second major development axis after aperitifs. In addition, we have the opportunity to significantly increase our production capacity and aging warehouse to accommodate the future growth of our premium bourbons, including the premium Whiskey Barons range, which is currently limited by capacity constraints. We are very excited to partner with such a skilled team of fermentation and distillation experts, enabling us to significantly accelerate and expand the innovation platform for our bourbon portfolio.

The American Wilderness Trail Distillery was established in 2012 and produces bourbon and rye whiskey from very high quality. The products are extended with a high range of a prestigious silver label bourbon of six/eight years. Shane Baker and Pat Heist are the co-founders of Wilderness Trail Distillery. The collaboration with Campari Group is a winning combination for both parties, given the advanced products that are part of a worldwide distribution.

Campari Group began its journey in craft bourbon in 2009, first with the Wild Turkey Distillery and Russell’s Reserve craft bourbon. In 2017 with the ultra-premium Whiskey Barons collection, including Old Ripy, Bond & Lillard and William Butler Saffell. Then with the launch of the Longbranch small batch bourbon in 2018. Finally, in 2022, Campari acquired a minority stake in the Kentucky straight brand bourbon whiskey with natural banana flavour.