Loch Lomond Group Acquires The New York Distilling Company

Forbes

28-05-2025

The bar at the New York Distilling Company, which has just been acquired by the Loch Lomond Group.
The Loch Lomond Group (LLG), a Scottish distilling company known for its wide portfolio of award-winning whiskies and spirits, has announced its acquisition of the New York Distilling Company (NYDC), based in Brooklyn, New York for an undisclosed sum. The move marks LLG's entry into American whiskey production and adds a new dimension to its existing range of premium spirits. NYDC co-founders Allen Katz and Tom Potter will stay with the company, operating in continued leadership roles.
The acquisition includes NYDC's full suite of whiskey and gin brands, with a particular emphasis on the Jaywalk Rye Whiskey line, which is produced using Horton Heirloom Rye—a rare grain with historical ties to early American distillation. LLG plans to invest in NYDC's distillation and visitor experience facilities and will use its international distribution network to support the U.S.-based distillery's expansion efforts, and also make further inroads into the U.S. market through its partnership with distributor and importer Foley Family Wines and Spirits.
New York Distilling Company co-founder Allen Katz
Founded by Allen Katz and Tom Potter in the late 1990s, the New York Distilling Company was born out of Katz's deep interest in classic American spirits, cocktails and gin. His decision to start building a distillery was the result after years of travel and immersion in a wide variety of international food and drink traditions, especially a formative visit to a well-known English gin distillery:
'The paramount visit for me was a trip to Plymouth gin in southern England,' he said.
'If I may be very direct, it was my holy s*** moment - an urban distillery right there in the middle of a city, and I couldn't concentrate. We were there for an educational excursion with a group of bartenders and journalists, and all I could think about was 'a distillery in New York City, a distillery in New York City'. How could perhaps this be made possible?'
Now, the company produces both gin and rye whiskey but is prioritizing the latter by reviving Horton Rye, a rye varietal that was once commonly used in New York State during the 17th and 18th centuries but had fallen out of cultivation. In 2015, Katz and his team acquired just ten seeds from Cornell University's seed bank. 'We got from Cornell 10 seeds. Literally, it's not a made-up number…we now have nearly 15 years later, perpetual crop rotation of 250 acres of this one unique historic and antique variety of American rye,' Katz said.
Horton Rye differs markedly from standard varieties. 'The head of the grain is only a third of the size of conventional rye... the sugars are going to be concentrated in a relatively small number of seeds,' Katz explains, illustrating the grain's unique flavor characteristics. 'The astounding detail of this variety of Rye is some concentrated flavours and aromas that I would put on a tropical scale'.
NYDC's flagship Jaywalk Rye line includes multiple expressions, including bonded and 100% heirloom versions, all produced with Horton. Slowly, it is increasing the amount of spirit made for whiskey production compared to its gins, which include its Dorothy Parker American Gin and Perry Tot's Navy Strength Gin.
Brooklyn's New York Distilling Company
For the Loch Lomond Group, the acquisition is part of a broader strategy to diversify its offerings and expand in key international markets, an impressive gamble amidst uncertain sales of whisky around the world and American-imposed tariffs on whisky from across the pond. The group also recently announced a new distillery and visitor centre in Luss, Dumbartonshire, in addition to steadily increasing its international presence with brands such as Loch Lomond Whiskies, Glen Scotia, and Ben Lomond Gin over the years.
Bringing NYDC into its stable enables LLG to enter the American whiskey market with a well-regarded, established producer. It also allows NYDC to scale its operations and reach wider audiences through LLG's distribution channels. 'How do we get ourselves into a more significant orbit?' Katz remarked when asked about why he decided to work with LLG. 'One of the critical linchpins of working with Loch Lomond is that the network they have has those people in place for us to share our story'.
Andy Jack, LLG's Group Head of Whisky Marketing, highlighted the natural fit between the two companies. 'What Allen and the team at NYDC were looking for was almost the perfect mirror of what we were looking for, which is somebody that can help us supercharge our business in the U.S.'
Jack also believes LLG is uniquely placed to take advantage of changing international markets: 'Part of this is de-risking global supply chains. We can help with that…we're probably slightly better placed to be agile and flexible and take advantage of some of the opportunities that are coming up'.
In theory, the acquisition will allow each side to focus on its strengths: LLG brings scalability, global logistics, and market access, while NYDC contributes a distinctive product range rooted that draws on American tradition to create spirits that have become known for their quality.
This is therefore a calculated step forward for both LLG and the New York Distilling Company. With the deal now in place, both companies hope to continue building their legacies—one steeped in Scottish whisky tradition and innovation, the other rooted in the celebration and rediscovery of historic American rye.