🥃 Who Owns Australian Spirits
Three global conglomerates control the vast majority of spirits you'll find behind any bar in Australia. And the craft spirits boom? One by one, the most beloved independent labels are being acquired.
The Global Players
🎭 Craft Camouflage — Spirits Edition
The same playbook that swallowed Little Creatures and Stone & Wood in beer is happening in spirits. The most loved independent brands quietly disappear into multinationals.
Founded in 2013 in Healesville, Yarra Valley by Cameron Mackenzie, Matt Jones and Stuart Gregor. Grew to become Australia's #1 gin and a top 10 global gin brand within a decade.
In 2022, Lion (owned by Kirin, Japan) acquired approximately 50% of Four Pillars. The Yarra Valley distillery, the branding, and the three founders remain in place — but a significant share of the profits now flows to Tokyo.
“When you buy a bottle of Four Pillars, you're supporting a Yarra Valley story written by a Japanese conglomerate.”
Genuinely Independent Australian Distilleries
These are the real ones. Australian owned, profits stay here, people who actually care about the product making the decisions.
Know an independent we've missed? Submit it →
Sources & References
- Four Pillars acquisition by Lion: Lion press release, 2022
- Diageo global brand portfolio: Diageo Annual Report 2023
- Pernod Ricard brand portfolio: Pernod Ricard Annual Report 2023
- Beam Suntory (Suntory Holdings): Suntory Group website, Courvoisier acquisition 2023
- Australian distillery independence verification: company registrations, ASIC