Teeling Whiskey Is No Longer Owned by the Teeling Family

Teeling Irish Whiskey is officially no longer owned by the Teeling family. The distillery is now fully in the hands of Bacardi. The family company behind, among others, Bacardi rum has acquired the remaining stake in the Irish whiskey brand. That puts the Teeling family on the sidelines—though they won’t be disappearing from the picture.

The acquisition marks a new chapter for Teeling, a brand that for years was owned by brothers Jack and Stephen Teeling. Bacardi first stepped in as a minority shareholder in 2017 and increased its stake to a majority position in 2023. Now the final portion of the distillery has been acquired as well.

Although Teeling is no longer family-owned, Jack and Stephen will remain involved with the brand. According to Bacardi, they will help shape Teeling’s direction, growth, and future.

Bacardi’s arrival at Teeling is not necessarily a bad thing for the distillery. Since Bacardi became involved, the whiskey brand has grown significantly. Sales have more than doubled, and Teeling is now exported to over 80 markets worldwide. As a result, you can find the brand on shelves across the globe.

Bacardi sees major growth potential in the global market for Irish whiskey. CEO Mahesh Madhavan describes Teeling as a brand that blends quality, craftsmanship, and innovation. He also points to the many awards Teeling has won in recent years, and therefore has high expectations for the brand.

For Bacardi, full ownership means it can double down on Teeling’s international expansion. For whiskey lovers, the real question is what this will mean in the long run for the brand’s character and its standout releases, such as the Teeling Renaissance series whiskey.

Jack Teeling says he has confidence in Bacardi and calls the brand “in the best possible hands.” Still, something fundamental has changed: Teeling is no longer Teeling-owned.

The name remains, the founders remain involved, and the distillery stays in Dublin—but full control now rests with Bacardi. A new phase begins for Teeling Irish Whiskey. What Bacardi’s next move for Teeling will be remains to be seen.