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Molson Coors Beverage Company has agreed to acquire bourbon and rye whiskey producer, Blue Run Spirits. This acquisition, which represents a further advancement in Molson Coors' transformation as a total beverage company, provides Blue Run with the necessary means to continue its growth. Blue Run is currently available in 31 US states and can be found at retail and on-premise accounts in the US and online. Based in Georgetown, Kentucky, Blue Run is one of the newest additions to the whiskey sector, having been introduced to the market in October 2020. The deal marks Molson Coors’ first spirits acquisition. According to Molson Coors, the acquisition of Blue Run boosts the company's footprint in the spirits sector, "as it continues to evolve from its storied history as a beer company and premiumise its portfolio". Simultaneously, Molson Coors has established Coors Spirits Co, an expansion of its existing spirits business, which will house Blue Run, Five Trail Blended American Whiskey, Barmen 1873 Bourbon, and upcoming innovations. The deal is expected to "more than double" the size of Molson Coors' spirits division, further supporting the company's premiumisation strategy. Molson Coors’ chief commercial officer, Michelle St. Jacques, said: “Molson Coors has been on a journey to broaden beyond our beer roots and build powerful brands in growing categories, and Blue Run joining us is an exciting next step as we establish Coors Spirits Co. Blue Run has accomplished in three years what many brands hope to do in a generation and has done it at the luxury end of the whiskey category. Importantly, we are committed to maintaining Blue Run’s well-known quality, design and innovation as we continue to grow our spirits portfolio.” Blue Run’s founders – Mike Montgomery, Tim Sparapani, Jesse McKnight and Andy Brown – will all remain with the brand. In March of 2023, Blue Run unveiled its intentions to build a distillery in Kentucky, US. Those plans will continue as part of the Molson Coors family. Additionally, Blue Run has scheduled the launch of three new whiskies for the late summer/autumn period. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.