Samson & Surrey Behind the Brands: Tequila Ocho, Bluecoat Gin, Mezcal Vago
As announced early last week, Heaven Hill has acquired Samson & Surrey, including its portfolio of six high-growth, super-premium brands – Tequila Ocho, Widow Jane American Whiskey, FEW Spirits, Brenne French Whisky, Bluecoat Gin and Mezcal Vago. The categories in which Samson & Surrey has a presence are some of the strongest in the industry, including super-premium Tequila and American Whiskey. These categories alone have been the strategic focus for nearly all significant industry players over the past few years. The acquisition of the Samson & Surrey portfolio adds notable, high-growth brands at price points in which Heaven Hill lacks significant presence. The acquisition aggressively moves Heaven Hill’s premiumization strategy forward. We’re excited to leverage our resources and expertise to supercharge growth of the Samson & Surrey portfolio. Let’s dive deeper into some of the exciting new brands we’re welcoming to the Heaven Hill portfolio.
Tequila Ocho
Tequila Ocho was created by the Tequila Master Carlos Camarena, in partnership with Tomás Estes, “Ambassador of Tequila” in the European Union. Both legends pursued a dream of creating the world’s finest sipping tequila leveraging the unique flavor profiles of individual agave ranches of the “Altos” region, home to many of the most legendary brands. Tequila Ocho has a complexity, depth and smoothness that makes it irresistible along with the unique vintage system that marks it out amongst connoisseurs the world over.
Learn more about Tequila Ocho here.
Bluecoat Gin
Bluecoat Gin was launched in 2006 by Philadelphia Distilling, which was founded in 2005 as the first craft distillery in Pennsylvania since prohibition. Known as the original American dry gin, the brand was positioned as an answer to the “medicinal” dominance of juniper-heavy London Dry gins and thereby kicked off a whole new category known as “American Dry.” Bluecoat Gin is distilled through a batch-by-batch process using hand-hammered copper pot stills from the fifth-generation Forsyth family and wooden fermentation vessels from Hall-Woodford, an iconic Philadelphia-based family business. Bluecoat Gin is a 16,000 9L case brand.
Learn more about Bluecoat Gin here.
Mezcal Vago
Founded by two Americans who were long-time Mexican residents, Mezcal Vago aims to bring the unique purity and identity of four Master Mezcaleros to a wider audience. Always micro-distilled and unique, every bottle of Vago is a journey through the best agave, most compelling flavors and generational distilling expertise of Oaxaca. Learn more about the brand’s origin story here. Mezcal Vago produces 4,600 9-L cases per year.
Learn more about Mezcal Vago here.
