AETHER Brand Group Announces First Acquisition – Corte Vetusto Mezcal

Corte Vetusto Joins New To Market Incubating and Operating Brand House Focused on Adult Consumption Categories

AETHER Brand Group, a new to market incubating and operating brand house focused on adult consumption categories, is pleased to announce their strategic acquisition - Corte Vetusto Mezcal - the world’s most awarded mezcal.

Created by David Shepherd and Richard Black, Corte Vetusto Mezcal is meticulously hand-crafted by Juan Carlos Gonzalez Diaz, a 5th generation Zapotec Maestro Mezcalero. Launched 7 years ago, it has intentionally remained ultra-premium, as is reflected in the various industry accolades, listings, and recognition. It is available in 7 global markets, the brand counts leading prestige accounts such as Harrod’s, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Nobu and The Savoy (UK), Vesper Bar (Thailand) and Hotel de Russie (Italy) as partners.

AETHER’s capabilities and assets will be deployed to dramatically increase and expand the brand’s distribution and outlet presence internationally and domestically, while also bringing on new fulfillment and sponsorship partners to further support and engage with Corte Vetusto’s already loyal customers and consumers.

We are excited to be the new home for this extraordinary product that honors craftmanship and boasts incredible heritage. Their international product recognition is strong, and we look forward to providing the capital, infrastructure, and capabilities to further accelerate the impressive global growth already achieved, explains Matthew Tarallo, CEO & Founder, AETHER Brand Group.

To date, Corte Vetusto offers three core SKUS ranging from $69.99-$134.99 including:

·       Espadin (Gold Outstanding 98 Points & the Mezcal Trophy at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2022 and 2017), Double Gold at the American Distilling Institute's Judging of Craft Spirits 2021, Best Mezcal, Best White Spirit and Best in Show at the Las Vegas Global Spirit Awards 2020, Gold for Taste at the Bartenders’ Brand Awards 2020

·       Tobala (Gold 95 points at the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2020, Double Gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2020)

·       Ensambles batch limited editions Ensamble IV (Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024) and Ensamble II (Double Gold and Mezcal Trophy at the International Spirits Challenge 2020, Best in Category and Gold Medal at the American Distilling Institute's Judging of Craft Spirits 2019).

The brand continues to deliver on its premiumization strategy by offering nano-batch, rare Ancestral Mezcal expressions as retail exclusives (e.g Harrods and Berry Bros.) and will soon launch its first Pechuga later in 2024.

We are thrilled to be part of the AETHER Brand Group family, said David Shepherd, co-founder and managing director, Corte Vetusto. The leadership team has an outstanding reputation in the consumer goods industry, with vast experience and success building and leading global brands across both developed and emerging markets. With this investment we’ll continue to hand-craft world-class liquid, selectively expand our distribution and cement our position as a highly respected craft spirits brand. We look forward to this exciting chapter together and sharing our exquisite mezcals with discerning drinkers across the globe.  

AETHER Brand Group’s current portfolio also includes brands such as NOMU Sake, Casa Alma Cocktails and Oval:CBD.

For more information visit Corte Vetusto or AETHERBrandGroup.com.

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About AETHER Brand Group:

Recently Launched by Former Global Vice President of Amazon for The Coca-Cola Company and Senior Vice President of Business Development of Reynolds American Matthew Tarallo, AETHER Brand Group is an Incubating and Operating Brand House in Adult Consumption Categories. A compliment to RFT Ventures, which focuses on investments in early-state businesses and founders, AETHER Brand Group acts as a brand house for creators, owners, and operators while utilizing owned assets and strategic partnerships across ingredient formulation, a national fulfillment network and more. Both ventures are poised to complement one another with a focus around investing, consulting, incubating, and operating emerging consumer brands in the adult consumption categories.  

About Matthew Tarallo:

Matthew Tarallo is an accomplished consumer products executive with deep experience and success building and leading global brands across both developed and emerging markets, which includes direct P&L ownership across large Fortune 500 & FTSE 100 companies as well as startups. In his last role as Senior Vice President of Business Development & Beyond Nicotine at Reynolds American, Matthew was accountable for building and leading new, multi-category transformational division for Beyond Nicotine. Prior to joining Reynolds American, Matthew served as the Global Vice President of Amazon for The Coca-Cola Company, where he developed a new global digital framework directly enabling a multi-billion-dollar retail business for the Amazon business across Retail (including Whole Foods), Media (including Twitch) and web services. Currently, Tarallo is tapped as a mentor for SKU, the first and leading CPG accelerator in the country with a simple mission– to surround stellar startups with a wraparound infrastructure of seasoned mentors, a customized program, advanced operations support, access to industry expertise and connections to capital. Tarallo’s success creating and scaling global brands has garnered large scale recognition and awards such as a nod from Cannes Lions for his global campaign with Coca-Cola, McLaren F1 and Amazon as well as the launch of the US Beyond Nicotine division at Reynolds American.