Corby Announces New USA Distribution Agreements

TORONTO, July 2, 2018 /CNW/ - Corby Spirit and Wine Limited ("Corby") (TSX: CSW.A, CSW.B) announced today that it has entered into agreements appointing new distributors for its products sold in the United States of America (the "USA"), for terms beginning following the expiration of Corby's agreement with Pernod Ricard USA, LLC on June 30, 2018.

Corby entered into an agreement providing 375 Park Avenue Spirits (a dba of Luctor International, LLC ("375 Park Avenue Spirits")) the exclusive right to represent J.P. Wiser's® Canadian whisky and Lamb's® rum in the USA effective as of July 1, 2018 for a five-year period to June 30, 2023, subject to extension as provided for under the agreement. J.P. Wiser's Canadian whisky is one of Canada's best-selling whiskies, with global sales of over 800,000 cases in fiscal 2017. J.P. Wiser's variants currently available in the USA include J.P. Wiser's Deluxe, J.P. Wiser's Rye and J.P. Wiser's 18 Year Old. Lamb's rum, one of the top-selling rum families in Canada, was previously mostly available through select duty-free outlets but will now have expanded distribution in the USA. Lamb's variants to be available in the USA will include Lamb's Palm Breeze, Lamb's White and Lamb's Spiced.

In addition, Corby entered into an agreement providing Hotaling & Co. ("Hotaling") the exclusive right to represent Corby's Northern Border Collection of Canadian whiskies, consisting of Lot No. 40, Pike Creek, and Gooderham & Worts, and Canada's number one super-premium gin, Ungava® effective as of July 1, 2018 for a five-year period to June 30, 2023. Lot No. 40 won Best Canadian Rye Whisky at the World Whiskies Awards 2018.

Finally, effective July 1, 2018, Polar Ice® vodka, one of the best-selling Canadian vodka brands, will continue to be available in the USA, and will be imported under an agreement with MHW, Ltd. ("MHW"). This agreement is for a term of one year, subject to extension as provided for under the agreement. Polar Ice recently won Gold at the 2017 Global Vodka Masters Competition.

"We are happy to partner with 375 Park Avenue Spirits for our key brands, J.P. Wiser's Canadian whisky and Lamb's rum, and with Hotaling for our Northern Border Collection of Canadian whiskies and Ungava Gin in the US. Their extensive distribution networks, along with our shared values and visions for the brands should help position them well in that dynamic and competitive market. Together with the new US representation for Polar Ice vodka by MHW, we are building further upon our adapted US strategy", said Patrick O'Driscoll, Corby's Chief Executive Officer.

About Corby
Corby Spirit and Wine Limited is a leading Canadian manufacturer, marketer and distributor of spirits and wines. Corby's portfolio of owned-brands includes some of the most renowned brands in Canada, including J.P. Wiser's®, Lot 40®, and Pike Creek® Canadian whiskies, Lamb's® rum, Polar Ice® vodka and McGuinness® liqueurs, as well as the recently acquired Ungava® gin, Cabot Trail® maple-based liqueurs and Chic Choc® Spiced rum, and Foreign Affair® wines. Through its affiliation with Pernod Ricard S.A., a global leader in the spirits and wine industry, Corby also represents leading international brands such as ABSOLUT® vodka, Chivas Regal®, The Glenlivet® and Ballantine's® Scotch whiskies, Jameson® Irish whiskey, Beefeater® gin, Malibu® rum, Kahlúa® liqueur, Mumm® champagne, and Jacob's Creek®, Wyndham Estate®, Stoneleigh®, Campo Viejo®, Graffigna® and Kenwood® wines. In 2018, Corby was named one of the 50 Best Workplaces in Canada by The Great Place to Work® Institute Canada for the seventh consecutive year, and was also listed among Greater Toronto's Top 100 Employers. Corby is a publicly traded company based in Toronto, Ontario, and listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the trading symbols CSW.A and CSW.B.  For further information, please visit our website or follow us on LinkedIn.

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements concerning possible or assumed future results of Corby's operations. Forward-looking statements typically are preceded by, followed by or include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "estimates", "intends", "plans" or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions and, as such, actual results or expectations could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. All financial results are reported in Canadian dollars.

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SOURCE Corby Spirit and Wine Limited