US-based Brown-Forman Corporation has closed the acquisition of distillery company BenRiach for £281m.

With this acquisition, Brown-Forman has added three single malt Scotch whisky brands; GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh, to its portfolio.

The acquisition includes trademarks of three brands, three malt distilleries, a bottling plant, and BenRiach’s headquarters in Edinburgh, Scotland.

"With this acquisition, Brown-Forman re-enters one of the spirits industry’s most exciting and consistent growth segments."

Brown-Forman chief executive officer Paul Varga said: "With this acquisition, Brown-Forman re-enters one of the spirits industry’s most exciting and consistent growth segments, Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

"The GlenDronach, BenRiach, and Glenglassaugh single malt brands are among the finest Single Malts in the world and we look forward to continue building them around the globe."

Founded in 1826, GlenDronach Distillery is located in the hills of the Scottish Highlands. It produces premium single malt whiskies.

Located in Speyside, BenRiach Distillery began producing malt whisky in 1898. Its whisky comes from both non-peated and peated malted barley.

The Glenglassaugh Distillery, which was established in 1875, produces coastal highland malt. This facility is located on the coast in the northern Scottish highlands.

Brown-Forman Corporation has a workforce of 4,400 employees and its brands are distributed to over 160 countries.