Brown-Forman Wins UK Legal Battle Against Bacardi

In a UK-based legal dispute between spirits distributor giants, Brown-Forman has been awarded a $67.6 million ruling by a UK tribunal as a result of a cost-sharing disagreement.

Brown-Forman and Bacardi first collaborated on their UK-based distribution process in 2002 but officially ceased that collaboration in April 2020 and Brown-Forman immediately formed their own UK distribution company.

Brown-Forman then asked Bacardi to pay them what they claimed Bacardi owed them after the agreement was terminated but Bacardi refused and Brown-Forman then brought a lawsuit against Bacardi in August 2020. Bacardi responded by seeking arbitration in a commercial court and, in May 2021, the commercial court ruled that Bacardi did not have to pay the full amount, pending the outcome of the arbitration.

However, the tribunal reversed that decision and Bacardi has been ordered to pay Brown-Forman the entire amount plus interest.

Brown-Forman is the owner of popular brands such as Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey, Woodford Reserve bourbon as well as BenRiach, GlenDronach and Glenglassaugh single malt Scotch whiskies.