Wild Turkey to be sold to Italy's Gruppo Campari

[wadewood]

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123914139817298585.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

We could have used some bailout money and made WT owned by the people!

[kickert]

Looks like SKYY Vodka is their most recognizable brand at this point.

[BourbonJoe]

First the French, now the Italians. Another piece of Americana gone to Hell.

Joe :usflag:

[cubacroc]

Ticker symbol CPR

The stock moved up yesterday and today.

[mozilla]

another ticker symbol is DVDCY and DVDCF

[B3Nut]

As long as they keep making the bourbon the same way and let Jimmy Russell do his thing, I don't see what difference it makes...they're just changing who counts the beans. As long as they keep making it like they've been doing, it should be all good. I'd prefer it be wholly-American owned, but like the noted philosopher Mick Jagger once said....you can't always get what you want.

The only WT product I've had so far is the WT101...it's become a go-to when I'm at a bar. Just a great sippin' hooch...going to get a bottle for my meager little stash.

TP

[sku]

Looks like SKYY Vodka is their most recognizable brand at this point.

They make Skyy, Glen Grant and Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo Tequila, as well as the namesake Campari.

Hmm, Wild Turkey negronis anyone?

[Jono]

Maybe now they will have a decent visitor center....it could use some expansion and increased tour availability.

[callmeox]

I just hope that the profitability expectations at Campari allow for the planned and held expansion to go forward.

[kickert]

Maybe now they will have a decent visitor center....it could use some expansion and increased tour availability.

And a post-tour tasting!!! everyone else does one!!

[mgilbertva]

Maybe now they will have a decent visitor center....it could use some expansion and increased tour availability.

Their visitor's center really is rather old and tired. Similarly the distillery itself could use a face-lift. But of course the real test is a) do they maintain the current level of quality, and will they continue with or even increase the number of enthusiast releases?

[OscarV]

After they announced an expansion last year they put it on hold.

Hopefully the new owners will get it going again and maybe in a few years (probably a few to many years) they can get back to releasing properly aged bourbon.

[jburlowski]

Looks like SKYY Vodka is their most recognizable brand at this point.

[OscarV]

And apparently, Jessica Alba.

[jburlowski]

Oscar:

See their web site.

[cowdery]

Since the Wall Street Journal story is subscribers-only, here is a link to my blog post about it. The Gruppo Campari press release announcing the acquisition is here.

The implication seems to be that Pernod didn't know what it had and Campari will be a much better owner. That, of course, is Campari's take.

[TNbourbon]

...The implication seems to be that Pernod didn't know what it had and Campari will be a much better owner. That, of course, is Campari's take.

My take is largely based on the recollections of my late father, a WWII GI who visited Europe during the early-'40s "unpleasantness" -- he reported that the Italian prisoners-of-war were often helpful and reliable (despite being defeated enemies), but it often didn't pay to trust our French 'allies'.

Compari or Pernod? Pretty easy for me, on that one!

[independant]

And a post-tour tasting!!! everyone else does one!!

Yeah I was disappointed when I was told that because of insurance reasons that they did not give tastings. This was right before she opened up the valve and let me cup my hands and take as much white dog as they would hold. Go figure. Lol

Even though there was no tasting at the end of the tour when I was there they did have a number of foods made using wild turkey. All very good and I got a copy of the recipes. All in all I was very happy with the tour at WT the place could use a face lift though, kind of old.

Here's hoping that WT ends up with good owners.

Cheers

[HighTower]

Good to see they realize they have a good market in Australia. We might see Jimmy more than once every 4 years!!:bowdown:

Scott

[craigthom]

I hope they don't modernize the distillery. I like that just fine. A new visitor center would be great.

Where will they bottle the stuff? I assume for now they'll keep doing it in Fort Smith, but will that change?

It looks as if Skyy is bottled by Frank-Lin Distillers in San Jose (where I think Wathens is also bottled), so it doesn't appear that Campari owns a bottling facility in the US. Maybe they'll truck Wild Turkey to California to be bottled.

[p_elliott]

The only WT product I've had so far is the WT101...it's become a go-to when I'm at a bar. Just a great sippin' hooch...going to get a bottle for my meager little stash.

TP

Then you should really try the WT 101 Rye as Spun Cookie would say "crazy good"

[cowdery]

I hope they don't modernize the distillery. I like that just fine. A new visitor center would be great.

Where will they bottle the stuff? I assume for now they'll keep doing it in Fort Smith, but will that change?

It looks as if Skyy is bottled by Frank-Lin Distillers in San Jose (where I think Wathens is also bottled), so it doesn't appear that Campari owns a bottling facility in the US. Maybe they'll truck Wild Turkey to California to be bottled.

[B3Nut]

Then you should really try the WT 101 Rye as Spun Cookie would say "crazy good"

I'll have to keep my eye out for that at the bars. Hmm...excuses to drive to Chicago and hit Delilah's....hmmmm.... I do like to try whiskies at bars before deciding to buy a bottle...I can only spend so much on hooch, so it has to be something I really like. WT101, WR, and ETL are on the list so far...tried ETL at Delilah's during ReptileFest last Saturday. MMMmmmm that was good! (My first time to Delilah's too...I really dig that joint!)

TP

[kickert]

Hey folks, I got some new information for you concerning the post-sale expansion at WT.

I was talking to a guy the other day at Vendome and he said they are on contract to build the stills for the new addition. I asked him if that meant they were going ahead with the expansion after the sale to Campari, and he said that the expansion was considered to be part of the purchase.

I thought you all would want to know.

[funknik]

Hey folks, I got some new information for you concerning the post-sale expansion at WT. The expansion was considered to be part of the purchase.

I thought you all would want to know.

Thanks, Ben . . . that is very good news . . . we need us some WT juice at a decent age and proof.