Brown-Forman Corporation and Pabst Brewing Company have agreed to end their U.S. partnership for flavored malt beverages (FMB), with Brown-Forman taking full operational control of the portfolio from July 7, 2026. The spirits producer will assume responsibility for supply, sales, marketing, and distribution of the brands previously managed by Pabst.
The collaboration began in 2021, granting Pabst exclusive rights to produce and commercialize flavored malt beverages based on Brown-Forman brands. During the partnership, the portfolio expanded beyond Jack Daniel’s Country Cocktails to include additional products such as Jack Daniel’s Bolder, Jack Daniel’s Hard Tea, and el Jimador Spiked Bebidas.
Robinson Brown IV, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for the United States and Canada at Brown-Forman, said the company valued the collaboration but now intends to bring the business in-house to strengthen its ready-to-drink strategy amid rising consumer demand. Centralizing operations is expected to accelerate growth and provide greater control over brand positioning and commercialization in the RTD segment.
Greig DeBow, Chief Executive Officer of Pabst, described the partnership as productive and said the transition will allow the brewer to focus more strongly on its core portfolio and new product innovation. Pabst’s beer portfolio includes brands such as Pabst Blue Ribbon, Pabst Light, Lone Star, Rainier, Old Style, Stag, Stroh’s, and Old Milwaukee.
The companies confirmed they are working jointly on a transition plan to ensure uninterrupted supply for retailers, distributors, and consumers until the agreement concludes. After July 2026, Brown-Forman will integrate the flavored malt beverage business into its broader ready-to-drink strategy as spirits producers increasingly seek direct control of RTD production and distribution to capture growth and margins in the expanding category.
