LOUISVILLE, Ky., Sept. 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sazerac, one of the leading and fastest-growing spirits companies in the world, today announces the completion of its acquisition of Au Vodka, a UK-based vodka and ready-to-drink (RTD) brand. The deal was first announced as a binding agreement and has now closed following customary completion conditions. Terms of the transaction will not be disclosed.

Sazerac's growth has been driven by a long-term approach to building brands, strategic acquisitions and sustained investment. From its roots in New Orleans, Louisiana and Louisville, Kentucky, the company has scaled into a global spirits business by maintaining an entrepreneurial approach and a focus on brands, consumers and execution.

The United Kingdom is an important market for Sazerac, and the acquisition allows the company to deepen its portfolio there as part of its continued strategy of investing in brands and expanding its global presence.

Of the deal, Jake Wenz, Sazerac President and CEO, said: "Au Vodka is a brand we've long admired, and it's had a phenomenal growth trajectory since 2015. What Charlie, Jackson and Charlie have achieved in just over a decade is spectacular and rare, and we have big plans for Au as we welcome the brand into the Sazerac family. This deal enables Sazerac to further expand our portfolio in the UK while also offering a path for continued global growth for Au."

Founded in Swansea in 2015 by friends Charlie Morgan and Jackson Quinn, Au's vision was simple: take a different approach to vodka. The brand quickly established itself with its distinctive gold bottle, flavored vodka portfolio and marketing strategy built around social media and culture. Au has since grown beyond the UK, expanding into new markets while maintaining the original spirit that helped establish the brand.

Charlie Morgan, co-founder of Au Vodka, said: "We started Au Vodka in Swansea with nothing but an idea and a belief that vodka didn't have to be boring. We are proud to have built it into one of the most disruptive brands of this generation. Having Sazerac take the helm feels like the right and natural next step for us. They're family-owned and they've shown that they know how to grow a brand without losing what makes it special. With Sazerac, Au can be offered to more people, in more markets, faster than we ever could alone. This is just the start of Au's next chapter."

Au joins Sazerac's robust, global spirits portfolio including Buffalo Trace Bourbon, BuzzBallz, Paul John Single Malt, Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Southern Comfort, SVEDKA Vodka, Myers's Rum, Paddy's Irish Whiskey, and many more.

PJT Partners served as financial advisor and DLA Piper as legal advisor to Au Vodka's shareholders; PwC served as financial advisor to the Au Vodka founders. Dorsey & Whitney served as legal advisor to Sazerac.

TORONTO, Sept. 10, 2026 /CNW/ -- Lucas Bols today announced Jacob Pepin as the Canadian winner of the 2026 BOLS Cocktail Battle for his original cocktail, Elder Lady. Pepin will represent Canada at Cocktail Fever, a global bartender experience hosted by BOLS in Amsterdam.

Inspired by this year's "Neon Nights" theme, the competition invited bartenders to create original, visually striking cocktails featuring BOLS Liqueurs and inspired by an iconic party decade. Entries were evaluated by an expert panel based on flavor, originality, technical execution, visual presentation and storytelling.

Pepin's Elder Lady earned the competition's highest Canadian honor by combining BOLS Melon and BOLS Elderflower liqueurs with golden honey, acid-adjusted pineapple and a float of Empress 1908 Gin.

"Jacob's Elder Lady demonstrates how a talented bartender can transform the flavor, quality and versatility of BOLS Liqueurs into a cocktail that feels original, contemporary and memorable," said Ignacio Llaneza, Vice President of Marketing, USA and Canada, Lucas Bols. "We are proud to celebrate his achievement and have him represent Canada's dynamic bartender community at Cocktail Fever in Amsterdam."

A Young Bartender With A Passion For Technique

At just 23 years old, Pepin has already developed a thoughtful and technically driven approach to bartending. After spending much of his early hospitality career in kitchens, he moved behind the bar approximately three years ago.

Elder Lady was the first original cocktail recipe Pepin committed to paper. He spent approximately 18 months refining the drink, balancing its ingredients and experimenting with acid-adjusted pineapple juice to create brightness without relying on additional citrus.

Pepin was particularly drawn to BOLS Elderflower for the balance between its sweet and floral notes and to BOLS Melon for delivering fresh fruit character without becoming overwhelming. He had already begun incorporating more BOLS products into his bar program before entering the competition.

The 2026 Canadian Winner and Finalists

Winner: Jacob Pepin - Elder Lady

Runner-Up: Zoe Bates

Third Place: Nick Incretolli

Jacob Pepin's Winning Cocktail

Elder Lady

Created by Jacob Pepin, Canadian Winner

Ingredients:

• 3/4 oz BOLS Melon Liqueur
• 3/4 oz BOLS Elderflower Liqueur
• 3/4 oz golden honey syrup (1:1)
• 1 oz pineapple juice adjusted to lime acidity with citric and malic acid
• 1/2 oz Empress 1908 Gin, floated

Preparation: Shake the first four ingredients with ice and pour into a glass. Fill with fresh ice and float the Empress 1908 Gin on top.

Cocktail Fever in Amsterdam

Cocktail Fever is an immersive two-day experience bringing together 2026 BOLS Cocktail Battle winners from participating countries around the world. The program will include training at the BOLS Cocktail Academy inside the House of BOLS, a visit to the Lucas Bols distillery, exclusive seminars and masterclasses, cultural experiences in Amsterdam and opportunities to connect with bartenders from across the global cocktail community, including BOLS Global Brand Ambassador Ivar de Lange and Master Distiller Monique ten Kortenaar.

The BOLS Cocktail Battle was supported in North America by CHILLED Magazine and Difford's Guide, providing participating bartenders with industry exposure across editorial, digital and social channels.

Following the success of the 2026 competition, the BOLS Cocktail Battle will return to Canada in 2027. The new theme, entry dates and competition details will be announced at a later date.

To learn more about the 2026 winners and receive updates about the 2027 BOLS Cocktail Battle, visit Neon Night Party Cocktail Battle

10th September 2026 -  Bumbu has retained its position as Canada’s No.1 Super-Premium Rum*. The Barbadian and Panamaian-crafted rum brand continues to outperform the wider category, with volumes growing by 43% year-on-year. The latest IWSR data ranks Bumbu as the country’s leading Super-Premium Rum by both volume and value, reinforcing its position as one of Canada’s fastest-growing premium spirits brands.

The Canadian performance reflects Bumbu’s continued momentum globally, with the brand also retaining its position as the world’s No.1 Super-Premium Rum* by both volume and value for the second consecutive year, according to IWSR.

The performance comes as Canadian consumers continue to seek distinctive premium spirits. While overall rum volumes declined, the super-premium imported gold rum segment remained resilient, reflecting growing demand for brands that offer authenticity, quality and character.
Brett Berish, Founder and CEO of Sovereign Brands, said, "We created Bumbu because we believed there was an opportunity to do something completely different with rum – to make it more premium, more distinctive and relevant to a much broader audience. Canada has really embraced Bumbu, and to be the No.1 Super-Premium Rum in the country for the second-year running, particularly in a challenging market, is something we’re incredibly proud of.”

Building on this momentum, Bumbu is set to further expand its presence in Ontario with a new 50mL Bumbu Original General Listing, due to hit shelves in time for the holiday season.

The new format will give consumers another way to discover Bumbu Original and further strengthen the brand's retail presence in the province.

Ronit Frigillana, Brand Manager Pernod Ricard Canada, added, “Bumbu’s continued growth in Canada reflects the momentum we’re seeing with Canadian consumers and the growing interest in distinctive, premium rum. There is still significant opportunity ahead for Bumbu in this market, and we’re excited to continue building on that momentum. The upcoming launch of Bumbu Original 50mL is another important step in expanding the brand’s presence and introducing more consumers to Bumbu.”

Maison Bernard Remy once again sees its pursuit of perfection honoured by the Decanter World Wine Awards. Our Rosé Cuvée receives a Silver medal, while our emblematic Carte Blanche and Blanc de Blancs are awarded Bronze. A triple tribute celebrating the dedication and passion behind every step of our creation.