Sazerac Company

Sazerac Company is an independent, family-owned American spirits manufacturer and international brand portfolio operator. Its business combines distilling, blending, maturation, bottling and brand management across whiskey and other beverage alcohol categories. Owned by William Goldring and the Goldring family, the company has grown from its New Orleans origins into a group with production operations across the United States, Canada, France, Ireland, India and Mexico.

The business traces its founding to Aaron Bird’s Sazerac Coffee House, opened in New Orleans in 1850. The establishment became associated with the Sazerac cocktail, originally made with cognac and later rye whiskey, alongside Peychaud’s Bitters and absinthe. Thomas H. Handy purchased the establishment in 1869, commercialized the recipe and developed the business into a wholesale liquor merchant and bottling company.

William Goldring began acquiring equity in 1984, eventually bringing the company into full family ownership. A significant expansion followed in 1992 with the acquisition of the George T. Stagg Distillery, subsequently renamed Buffalo Trace Distillery. Further acquisitions broadened the company’s manufacturing capabilities, whiskey production and international reach.

Production and portfolio

Sazerac’s capabilities encompass bourbon, straight rye, Canadian whisky, Irish whiskey, single malt whisky, tequila, mezcal, vodka, rum, liqueurs, bitters and ready-to-drink cocktails. Its operations include commercial and custom distilling, bottling, barrel aging, warehousing and portfolio management. Distribution partnerships and spirits importation support the commercial reach of its brands, while distillery hospitality and experiential tourism connect consumers with their production and history.

Alongside established spirits categories, Sazerac has expanded its ready-to-drink business through acquisitions and manufacturing investment. The acquisition of BuzzBallz in 2024 added a dedicated cocktail business, while the acquisition of Full Sail production assets in Oregon in 2026 supported West Coast packaging capacity. This expansion sits alongside the company’s continuing investment in whiskey production, historic distilleries and brand development.