By Courtney Dabney
TX Whiskey
The TX brand was established in 2010 by Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson.
Paris-based Pernod Ricard (through Pernod Ricard USA) announced Monday the acquisition of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., owner of the TX brand headquartered in Fort Worth. This transaction is expected to close shortly.
The TX brand was established in 2010 by Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson. Their TX Blended Whiskey launched in 2012, and was followed by the debut of their TX Straight Bourbon, which was aged just over four years and released for the first time in December of 2016. The duo purchased the historic Glen Garden Country Club, its golf course and grounds, and built their distillery and event venue on the storied 112-acres.
With this deal, Pernod Ricard, which owns 16 of the top 100 spirits brands, including: Absolut Vodka, Ricard Pastis, The Glenlivet Scotch whiskies and Beefeater gin, is once again expanding its portfolio. The deal includes Whiskey Ranch, the state-of-the-art distillery minutes from downtown Fort Worth where consumers enjoy the full TX brand experience, including tours and tastings.
“The TX Blended Whiskey distinguishes itself as a brand poised for tremendous growth,” said Paul Duffy, Chairman & CEO of Pernod Ricard North America. “The team at Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. have done an excellent job developing the brand, and we are keen to build on this success. We will continue to reinforce the community of loyal TX brand ambassadors, both as we expand distribution and as we welcome consumers to the Whiskey Ranch.”
The full TX range espouses the brand’s rugged elegance. The bottle tops are handmade from boot leather, the canvas neck wraps are a nod to pioneer covered wagons and the silver band around the base of every bottle represents a polished symbol of Western culture.
“The addition of TX, which is an exceptional super premium whiskey blended by skilled Texan craftsmen, represents a very promising venture which strengthens our portfolio and footprint in the United States,” says Alexandre Ricard, Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard.
In a statement, Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson, Founders of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., said “This is an exciting day for all of us at Firestone & Robertson. Building our company and producing award-winning whiskies has been a truly remarkable experience. We are so proud of our team, and grateful to the many people that supported our efforts over the years. It is an extraordinary opportunity to partner with Pernod Ricard, and we are confident this relationship will accelerate the growth of our brands while preserving our roots and shared core values.”