WhistlePig Sells Off Minority Stake

Vermont-based WhistlePig has announced that they have sold a minority stake in their company to the Chicago-headquartered BDT investment firm ostensibly to enhance their international stature.

WhistlePig’s partnership with BDT also signals the complete departure of co-founder Raj Bhakta, who retired in 2017 and has “now fully exited his remaining stake”.

WhistlePig was founded in 2007 and opened its grain-to-glass distillery in October 2015 after a period of renovation and conversion by Bhakta. However, in May 2016, board members attempted to remove Bhakta from leadership in a dispute was eventually settled with a new leadership structure created in which Bhakta remained on the board as founder and chief steward.

In June 2017, WhistlePig had reportedly invited interested parties to submit a formal bid following takeover propositions and in November 2018, WhistlePig master distiller Dave Pickerell passed away.