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By The Numbers

Bourbon or scotch? You may be surprised by who owns your favorite whiskey

Raghu Manavalan Jan 15, 2014

Do you prefer Maker’s Mark bourbon to Jim Beam? Laphroig scotch to Bowmore? Basil Hayden’s to Knob Creek?

All are different distilleries, to be sure, but now they’re all owned by the same company. Japan’s Suntory is buying Beam Inc. — as in Jim Beam — for $13.6 billion. The deal will make Suntory one of the largest alcohol producers in the world.

Curious if your favorite whiskey is one of Suntory’s brands — or another of the big distilleries?

Here’s a breakdown of which company owns which whiskey brand:

 

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