Reyes Beverage Group (RBG) has scooped up several more major spirit brands in California, with Four Roses Bourbon and Fuji Japanese Whisky the latest to join the total beverage distributor in the leadup to Republic National Distributing (RNDC) exiting the state.
Kirin Beer and Spirits of America Inc.’s (KBSAI) will move their Golden State distribution to RBG effective September 1, the distributor announced Wednesday. The partnership includes KBSAI’s most popular brands, Four Roses and Fuji Japanese Whisky, as well as other imported Japanese brands.
“Our team is thrilled to bring Four Roses Bourbon and the other great line up of brands
to our expanding total beverage portfolio,” Tom Reyes, president of RBG West, said in a press release. “We look forward to growing together and delivering even greater value to our retail partners throughout California.”
RGB already works with KBSAI’s beer portfolio (New Belgium Brewing, Bell’s Brewery and Kirin Ichiban) and recently expanded the relationship across several markets, including California, Hawaii, Chicago, Florida, Washington, D.C. and Indiana.
“California has always been one of our most important markets, with a diverse and passionate bourbon, whisky and spirits community,” Hiro Otani, president and CEO of KBSAI, said in the release. “Working with Reyes Beverage Group, whose reputation for professionalism, execution, and reach is second to none, will allow more people to discover and enjoy our bourbons and ensure future successful growth.”
The move follows an exodus of other spirits brands from RNDC in California and nationally, and the subsequent planned withdrawal from the state by the distributor on September 1. The closure has left hundreds of suppliers scrambling for new wholesale suppliers.
In the last week, two other spirit companies have announced new partnerships with RGB in California as well: Kōloa Rum Company and Infinium Spirits, whose portfolios include Seagram’s Vodka, Templeton Rye, Tequila Corralejo, Zaya Rum, Torres Brandy and others. The new additions also join LALO Tequila and Fernet Branca USA.
With two of the largest global spirit companies, William Grant & Sons and Brown-Forman, and top-selling spirit Tito’s Vodka also recently joining Reyes’ California portfolio, the distributor has an opportunity to slide deeper into spirits, but it remains to be seen how it will transition from stocking the cold box to servicing on-premise spirits accounts.
Gallo’s High Noon also moved to Reyes in California before RNDC’s withdrawal announcement, and recently announced it would follow with its spirits portfolio and select wines. Gallo is the fourth-largest bev-alc supplier in California with some of the top-selling spirits and wine brands in the state. The latest additions also mark Reyes’ entry into the wine category, similarly a very different and slower-paced distribution game compared to beer.