Who Owns Aviation American Gin?
Aviation American Gin is owned by Diageo plc (LSE: DGE), the British spirits conglomerate, which acquired the brand through its purchase of Davos Brands in August 2020 for approximately $610 million upfront, with performance-based payments potentially bringing the total to $735 million. Actor Ryan Reynolds, who acquired a stake in Aviation in 2018, retained an equity interest following the Diageo acquisition. The brand is headquartered in Portland, Oregon, USA, and operates as a wholly-owned brand within Diageo's North American spirits portfolio.
Parent Company
Diageo plc
Acquired
2020
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
Portland, Oregon, USA
Who Owns Aviation American Gin?
- Parent Company: Diageo plc
- Ownership Type: Wholly owned
- Acquisition Year: 2020
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock Ticker: LSE: DGE
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Aviation American Gin | Diageo plc | Wholly owned |
History of Aviation American Gin
- Founded: 2006
- Founders: Ryan Magarian, Christian Krogstad
- Acquired by Diageo plc: 2020
Aviation American Gin was founded in 2006 in Portland, Oregon by Ryan Magarian, a Seattle-based bartender and spirits consultant, and Christian Krogstad, a distiller at House Spirits Distillery. The two wanted to create a gin positioned as distinctly American rather than a variation on the dominant London Dry style. London Dry gins are juniper-forward and dry; Aviation was formulated with a softer, more floral botanical profile built around lavender, cardamom, Indian sarsaparilla, anise seed, and two varieties of orange peel alongside juniper.
The brand released out of House Spirits Distillery in Portland and gained early recognition in craft cocktail circles. It won a gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2010 and attracted distribution across the United States, positioning itself as a premium American alternative in a gin category that had historically been dominated by British brands.
In February 2018, Ryan Reynolds acquired a substantial stake in Aviation American Gin. Reynolds's involvement went beyond a typical celebrity endorsement. He took an active role in the brand's creative direction, overseeing the packaging redesign to a cleaner, more contemporary label and producing a series of deadpan advertising videos that circulated widely on social media. The approach was commercially effective. Within months of Reynolds's involvement, Aviation became one of the fastest-growing spirits brands in the United States.
By 2020, Aviation had become a target for acquisition by a major spirits company. Diageo announced the Davos Brands acquisition in August 2020. The purchase price reflected Aviation's rapid growth trajectory: the brand had reportedly grown from approximately 11,000 cases annually in 2018 to well over 100,000 cases by the time of the deal. Diageo folded the brand into its North American portfolio alongside Casamigos Tequila, which Diageo had acquired in 2017 for up to $1 billion, and other premium spirits.
Since the acquisition, Aviation has expanded distribution internationally through Diageo's global sales network, with availability growing in the United Kingdom, Australia, and parts of Europe. The brand's production has scaled at House Spirits Distillery in Portland, which continues as the manufacturing facility.
About Diageo plc
What does Diageo own?
Diageo owns a portfolio of approximately 200 alcoholic beverage brands including Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, Guinness stout, Smirnoff vodka, Don Julio tequila, Baileys Irish cream, Captain Morgan rum, Crown Royal Canadian whisky, Tanqueray gin, Bulleit bourbon, and Cîroc vodka. The company also holds a 34.2% stake in Moet Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, giving it indirect exposure to the Hennessy cognac and Moet & Chandon champagne brands. Diageo's brands are sold in nearly 180 countries.
Is Diageo publicly traded?
Yes, Diageo plc is listed on the London Stock Exchange under ticker DGE and on the New York Stock Exchange as an American Depositary Receipt under ticker DEO. The company has been publicly listed since its formation in 1997 through the merger of Grand Metropolitan and Guinness. Diageo does not have a controlling shareholder, and its shares are held primarily by institutional investors.
Who founded Diageo?
Diageo was formed on 17 December 1997 through the merger of Grand Metropolitan plc and Guinness plc. Grand Metropolitan was a British conglomerate that owned Smirnoff, Baileys, and J&B, among other brands. Guinness plc owned the Guinness stout brand, Johnnie Walker, and a portfolio of other spirits. The merged entity was named Diageo, a name derived from Latin and Greek roots intended to convey global reach.
Where is Diageo headquartered?
Diageo is headquartered in London, United Kingdom. The company maintains its registered office and principal executive offices in London. Diageo's operational footprint spans the United Kingdom, Ireland, the United States, Scotland, Jamaica, Mexico, India, and Canada, among other countries. The company's Scotch whisky operations are centered in Scotland, where it operates numerous distilleries.
How many brands does Diageo own?
Diageo owns approximately 200 alcoholic beverage brands across spirits, beer, and wine. Of these, 13 brands each generate over one billion US dollars in annual net sales. These billion-dollar brands include Johnnie Walker, Guinness, Smirnoff, Don Julio, Baileys, Captain Morgan, Crown Royal, Tanqueray, Bulleit, J&B, Buchanan's, Windsor, and Cîroc. The company also holds a 34.2% stake in Moet Hennessy, which owns additional premium brands.
Who owns Diageo?
Diageo plc is a publicly traded company with no controlling shareholder. The company's shares are held primarily by institutional investors including major asset managers and pension funds. No single shareholder holds a majority stake in Diageo. The company is incorporated in England and Wales and is subject to UK corporate governance requirements, including a board with a majority of independent non-executive directors.
What is Diageo's revenue?
Diageo reported net sales of approximately 20.2 billion US dollars for the fiscal year ended 30 June 2025, with organic net sales growth of 1.7%. The company's fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Free cash flow for FY2025 was approximately 2.7 billion US dollars. Diageo's revenue has faced headwinds from unfavorable foreign exchange movements and challenging macroeconomic conditions in key markets including the United States and Greater China.
What is Diageo's sustainability commitment?
Diageo has committed to achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by 2050 through its Spirit of Progress action plan. The company's validated science-based targets include reducing Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero in direct operations by 2040. Diageo focuses on water stewardship, packaging sustainability, and regenerative agriculture, with over 85% renewable electricity use and 43% recycled content in PET bottles achieved in 2025.
- Founded: 1997
- Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
- Company Type: Publicly Traded
- Stock: LSE: DGE
- Revenue: approximately $20.2 billion (FY2025, year ended 30 June 2025)
- Employees: Approximately 28,000
Where Is Aviation American Gin Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
- Manufacturing / Operations: United States
Aviation American Gin Recalls & Controversies
Aviation American Gin has no significant product recalls or regulatory actions on record as of June 2026.
The brand's most prominent controversy relates to the terms of Ryan Reynolds's exit from his majority stake. Reynolds publicly stated he sold the brand to fund his purchase of a stake in Wrexham AFC, the Welsh football club. Some media coverage questioned the valuation relative to the earnout structure, but no regulatory or legal disputes arose from the transaction.
Diageo itself has faced some criticism regarding practices in developing markets, and the parent company's historical tax structures have drawn attention from financial journalists, but none of these relate directly to Aviation.
Brands Owned by Diageo plc
- Baileys - Baileys Irish Cream is the world's best-selling cream liqueur, owned by Diageo p...
- Don Julio - Mexican premium tequila brand founded in 1942, one of the world's top-selling lu...
- Guinness - Irish dry stout beer brand, one of the world's most recognized and best-selling ...
- Johnnie Walker - Scottish brand of blended Scotch whisky, the world's best-selling blended Scotch...
- Smirnoff - Global vodka brand, the world's best-selling vodka by volume, produced by Diageo...
Aviation American Gin Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Diageo's global distribution network gives Aviation access to approximately 180 markets
- +Strong brand recognition built through Ryan Reynolds's marketing approach
- +Differentiated American-style botanical profile from London Dry competitors
- +Diageo's financial scale allows sustained marketing investment across channels
- +Portland, Oregon production maintains craft authenticity narrative
Considerations
- -Brand visibility remains closely tied to Ryan Reynolds, creating celebrity dependency risk
- -The premium craft gin segment has become more crowded since Aviation's initial market entry
- -Diageo's scale may gradually erode the independent craft positioning that drove early growth
- -Performance earnout structure created post-acquisition financial complexity
Frequently Asked Questions About Aviation American Gin
Sources & Further Reading
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Aviation American Gin on AmazonCompetitors to Aviation American Gin
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