Source: Eden Mill

Founder Paul Miller said the deal would allow Eden Mill to ‘push forward’ with the building of a new distillery

Scottish distillery Eden Mill has sold a majority stake to Inverleith, the investor firm that owns majority stakes in Planet Organic, Montezuma’s and Good Hemp.

The deal, for an undisclosed sum, would allow Eden Mill to “push forward” with the “ambitious build” of a new distillery at the mouth of the River Eden in St Andrews, with an eye to opening the facility in 2022.

It would also enable the company to expand its distribution in the UK and abroad, said Eden Mill.

The brand would “be able to realise our distillery ambition and unlock the potential of Eden Mill St Andrews as a premium craft gin and premium single malt scotch whisky here in the UK and overseas”, said its founder Paul Miller.

“We have been looking for an investor who shares our passion for the Eden Mill opportunity, who understands the uniqueness of the opportunity and is aligned to our vision.”

Miller will continue to lead the business as MD, backed by a new senior executive leadership team and a newly formed board of directors, whose full roster is yet to be announced.

The brand marked “a fantastic addition to Inverleith’s portfolio of premium consumer brands”, said Inverleith managing partner Paul Skipworth.

“As a team, we have a long heritage in the development of premium spirits, both operationally and as investors, and we believe we will be a strong partner for Paul Miller and the wider Eden Mill team over the coming years.”

It’s the latest in series of high-profile fmcg deals by Inverleith over recent years. 2018 saw it pick up majority stakes in Planet Organic, Good Hemp and Montezuma’s