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  1. Home
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  3. Food & Beverage
  4. Aviation American Gin
Aviation American Gin logo
Food & Beverage

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

Aviation American Gin Timeline

1997
Diageo plc

Parent company established in London, England, United Kingdom

Company Founded
2006

Aviation American Gin

Founded by Ryan Magarian, Christian Krogstad

Founded
2020
Acquired by Diageo plc

Diageo plc acquired Aviation American Gin

Acquired
premiumpremiumUnited StatesunisexOfficial Website

Who Owns Aviation American Gin?

  • Parent Company: Diageo plc
  • Ownership Type: Wholly owned
  • Acquisition Year: 2020
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock Ticker: LSE: DGE
BrandParent CompanyOwnership Type
Aviation American GinDiageo plcWholly owned

Where to Buy

Disclosure: We may earn commission from purchases
AmazonAviation American Gin on Amazon

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 percent stake in Moët Hennessy, the wines and spirits division of LVMH, giving it indirect exposure to the Hennessy cognac and Moët & 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 percent stake in Moët 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 $20.2 billion for FY2025 (ended 30 June 2025), down 0.1 percent reported but up 1.7 percent organically. Operating profit was $4.3 billion and free cash flow was $2.7 billion. The company's fiscal year runs from 1 July to 30 June. 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.

  • Founded: 1997
  • Headquarters: London, England, United Kingdom
  • Company Type: Publicly Traded
  • Stock: LSE: DGE
  • Revenue: $20.2 billion (FY2025, ended 30 June 2025)
  • Employees: Approximately 28,000

Visit Diageo plc website

View full company profile for Diageo plc

Where Is Aviation American Gin Made / Based?

  • Headquarters: Portland, Oregon, USA
  • Manufacturing / Operations: United States

Aviation American Gin Categories & Tags

GinCraft SpiritsAmerican GinSpiritsAmerican BrandCraft Distillery

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

BaileysFood Beverage

Baileys

Owned by Diageo plc

Baileys Irish Cream is the world's best-selling cream liqueur, owned by Diageo plc and produced exclusively in Dublin, Ireland.

liqueuralcoholirish-cream
Captain MorganFood Beverage

Captain Morgan

Owned by Diageo plc

Brand of spiced rum and other rum-based spirits, one of the best-selling rum brands worldwide, owned by Diageo plc.

rumspiritsalcohol
Crown RoyalFood Beverage

Crown Royal

Owned by Diageo plc

Canadian blended whisky brand created by Seagram in 1939, now owned by Diageo plc. The top-selling Canadian whisky in the United States.

whiskycanadian-whiskyspirits
Don JulioFood Beverage

Don Julio

Owned by Diageo plc

Mexican luxury tequila brand founded in 1942 and owned by Diageo plc. The largest spirits brand in the U.S. by retail value.

tequilaspiritsalcohol
GuinnessFood Beverage

Guinness

Owned by Diageo plc

Irish dry stout beer brand, one of the world's most recognized and best-selling beer brands.

beerstoutalcohol
Johnnie WalkerFood Beverage

Johnnie Walker

Owned by Diageo plc

Scottish brand of blended Scotch whisky, the world's best-selling blended Scotch whisky brand, owned by Diageo plc and distributed in over 180 countries.

scotch-whiskyspiritsalcohol
View all brands owned by Diageo plc

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

  • Diageo Investor Relations
  • Diageo Davos Brands Acquisition Press Release, August 2020
  • Aviation American Gin Official Website
  • House Spirits Distillery
  • Wikidata: Aviation American Gin
  • SEC EDGAR: Diageo plc (DEO) filings
  • Forbes: Ryan Reynolds Aviation Gin sale
  • Distilled Spirits Council of the United States

Competitors to Aviation American Gin

These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.

BrandParent CompanyCountryFoundedMarket PositionPrimary MarketGender Target
Jack Daniel'sJack Daniel's
Brown Forman
USA
1866
Mass marketGlobalAll Genders

Learn More About Competitors

Jack Daniel'sFood Beverage

Jack Daniel's

Owned by Brown-Forman Corporation

American brand of Tennessee whiskey, one of the best-selling whiskey brands in the world.

whiskeyspiritsalcohol

Competitive Analysis

Market Positioning: Aviation American Gin competes with 1 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.

Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.

Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.

Independent Alternatives to Aviation American Gin

Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Diageo plc, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.

Naked JuiceFood Beverage

Naked Juice

Owned by Tropicana Brands Group

American premium juice and smoothie brand founded in Santa Monica in 1983. Owned by Tropicana Brands Group since 2021, previously by PepsiCo from 2007.

juicesmoothiecold-pressed
Privately Owned

Naked Juice is privately owned, unlike Aviation American Gin which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Ferrero RocherFood Beverage

Ferrero Rocher

Owned by Ferrero

Premium hazelnut chocolate brand launched in 1982 by Ferrero Group, sold in over 170 countries. Known for gold-foil wrapped praline chocolates and gifting positioning.

chocolatepremium-chocolategifting
Privately Owned

Ferrero Rocher is privately owned, unlike Aviation American Gin which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Fiji WaterFood Beverage

Fiji Water

Owned by The Wonderful Company

Premium bottled water brand sourced from an artesian aquifer in Fiji, owned by The Wonderful Company.

bottled-waterbeveragepremium-water
Privately Owned

Fiji Water is privately owned, unlike Aviation American Gin which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Purely ElizabethFood Beverage

Purely Elizabeth

Owned by Ferrero

Better-for-you breakfast brand founded in 2009 in Boulder, Colorado, known for granola, oatmeal, and cereal with premium ingredients. Acquired by Ferrero Group in August 2026 for approximately $850 million.

granolabreakfastbetter-for-you
Privately Owned

Purely Elizabeth is privately owned, unlike Aviation American Gin which is under a publicly traded parent company.

StonyfieldFood Beverage

Stonyfield

Owned by Lactalis Group

American organic yogurt brand founded in New Hampshire in 1983, owned by Lactalis Group since 2017. The best-selling certified organic yogurt brand in the United States and a certified B Corporation.

yogurtorganicdairy
Privately Owned

Stonyfield is privately owned, unlike Aviation American Gin which is under a publicly traded parent company.

TropicanaFood Beverage

Tropicana

Owned by Tropicana Brands Group

American fruit juice brand best known for its not-from-concentrate orange juice, owned by Tropicana Brands Group since 2021.

juiceorange-juicebeverage
Privately Owned

Tropicana is privately owned, unlike Aviation American Gin which is under a publicly traded parent company.

Diageo plc Stock Information

Jobs at Diageo plc

Latest News About Aviation American Gin

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Last reviewed: June 7, 2026 · Reviewed by Who Brands Editorial Team