What Fortitude Spirits Group does

Fortitude Spirits Group is a UK-based, privately-held spirits platform operating three integrated pillars: Fortitude Drinks UK (UK trade distribution), ICB Distillers (contract bottling, liquid development and private label manufacturing at the BRC AA* and HMRC-bonded Middlesbrough facility), and a portfolio of owned and partner brand development. Established in 1990 as Intercontinental Brands and acquired in 2023 by Kliro Capital Partners, the group produces over 30 million bottles annually across more than 500 SKUs and distributes both own-label and third-party spirits brands across UK on-trade, off-trade, luxury retail, cash & carry, and e-commerce channels, including Amazon Sparks and Master of Malt.

The group's brand portfolio spans value to ultra-premium tiers and includes Crystal Head Vodka (70% UK ultra-premium vodka share by volume, IWSR 2019-23), Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum, Cococariba (#2 UK coconut rum liqueur), Carthy's (#3 cream liqueur with +71% growth 2023-24), Cactus Jack's (#1 UK party shot, 13M+ shots/yr), Café Solo, Pampero Rum, Benvenuti Limoncello, Gin & Juice and Still G.I.N. by Dre & Snoop, Bareksten, Bella Apertini and others. Manufacturing rests on state-of-the-art i-Still 2000 distillation technology, four bottling lines, an in-house laboratory, still-house, blending technology, and a product development team that has produced multiple international award wins (World's Best Liqueur Design 2025, World's Best Flavoured Rum 2023, Gold at World Liqueur Awards 2025).

Commercially, the group operates enterprise field sales with national account managers across all UK channels, a direct-to-consumer e-commerce channel via Amazon Spark and Master of Malt, and contract manufacturing/OEM revenue from private label spirits supplied to all major UK supermarkets. Revenue is generated through transaction-fee style distribution and manufacturing contracts; pricing is not publicly disclosed at SKU level. Service wrap includes under-bond storage with live inventory, consolidated customer deliveries, daily sales-out data, field sales campaigns, and market data services (Circana, Nielsen, IWSR, Vyper). Distribution partnerships are expanding — Penrhos Spirits joined as exclusive UK partner in November 2025. Major retail relationships span Sainsbury's (400+ stores for Hawksbill Rum), Morrisons, Booker, LWC Drinks, Selfridges, Harrods, Fortnum & Mason, Amathus and The Whisky Exchange, supported by 99% on-time in-full delivery performance.

Name

Fortitude Spirits Group

Legal name

Intercontinental Brands (ICB) Ltd

Website

https://fortitudespiritsgroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Fortitude Spirits Group is a UK-based spirits platform operating three pillars — Fortitude Drinks UK (distribution), ICB Distillers (contract bottling and private label manufacturing), and owned/partner brand development — producing 30M+ bottles annually and distributing value-to-ultra-premium spirits brands across all major UK trade and e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (312140)

SIC

Beverages (2080), Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Craft Distilleries & Microdistilleries (THAFALAH)

Keywords

• Spirits distribution
• Contract bottling
• Spirits manufacturing
• Brand development
• Private label spirits

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Spirits Brand Sales and Distribution: Fortitude Drinks UK distributes the company's own portfolio of value and premium brands alongside carefully selected partner brands across all channels in the UK market, including on-trade, off-trade, luxury retail, cash & carry, and e-commerce.
2. Contract Manufacturing and Bottling: ICB Distillers provides contract spirits bottling and third-party production services, offering liquid development, distillation, pasteurisation, labelling, and bottling from 5cl to 1.5 litres. The established private label spirits production business supplies all major UK supermarkets.
3. Partner Brand Distribution Services: Distribution services for third-party spirits brand owners including under-bond storage with live inventory reporting, consolidated customer deliveries, daily sales-out data, field sales campaigns, and market data services using Circana, Nielsen, IWSR and Vyper.
4. Consumer Retail (E-commerce): Direct consumer sales through online platforms including Amazon and Master of Malt, as well as through retail convenience stores and supermarkets.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fortitude Spirits Group develops, produces, and distributes its own portfolio of spirits brands and provides contract bottling, liquid development, and third-party manufacturing services through its wholly-owned ICB Distillers subsidiary. Through Fortitude Drinks UK, the company distributes owned and partner brands across on-trade, off-trade, luxury retail, cash & carry, and e-commerce channels in the UK, supplying all major UK supermarkets.

Product overview

Fortitude Spirits Group is a UK-based spirits company operating three integrated business pillars: (1) Fortitude Drinks UK for distribution, scaling spirits brands across all channels including supermarkets, on-trade, luxury retail, cash & carry, and e-commerce; (2) ICB Distillers for contract bottling and manufacturing, producing over 30 million bottles annually across 500 SKUs from their Middlesbrough facility; and (3) a portfolio of owned and distributed brands including Bareksten (Norwegian gin/aquavit/vodka), Gin & Juice and Still G.I.N. (Dre and Snoop collaborations), Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum, Crystal Head Vodka, Café Solo coffee liqueur, Cactus Jack's party schnapps, Pampero Rum, Benvenuti Limoncello, Rozél Rosé Vodka, Angels Peach Schnapps, Bella Apertini, Carthy's Cream Liqueur, Cococariba, Diabolo, Messer Schmitt, North Coast Spirits Range, and Veroni Amaretto.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum: Award-winning Caribbean spiced rum brand with turtle conservation mission, available in Original, Pineapple, Mango, and Banana variants.
• Crystal Head Vodka
• Pampero Rum
• Gin & Juice by Dre & Snoop
• Still G.I.N.
• Café Solo
• Cococariba
• Carthy's
• Benvenuti Limoncello
• Pampero Rum
• Cactus Jack's
• Rozél Rosé Vodka
• Angels Peach Schnapps
• Bella Apertini
• Messer Schmitt
• Diabolo
• North Coast Spirits Range
• Veroni Amaretto
• Bareksten

Products and services

• Hawksbill Caribbean Spiced Rum Caribbean spiced rum inspired by beach rum shacks, featuring a blend of 1 & 2 year aged Caribbean Rums from Guyana and Trinidad with tasting notes of vanilla, toasted nutmeg, cinnamon, raisin, cardamom, and sea salt. Range includes Original, Pineapple, Mango, and Banana variants. 10% of profits support Hawksbill turtle protection.
• Crystal Head Vodka Ultra-premium vodka brand created by Dan Aykroyd featuring an iconic skull-shaped bottle. All expressions are filtered through over 10,000 Herkimer diamonds. Dominates 70% of the ultra-premium vodka market by volume (IWSR 2019-2023). Products include Original, Aurora, Onyx, and Pride Edition.
• Gin & Juice By Dre and Snoop Award-winning ready-to-drink (RTD) canned cocktail featuring premium gin crafted with real fruit juice and botanicals, co-founded by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg. Available in four flavours at 5.9% ABV.
• Still G.I.N. By Dre and Snoop Premium American-style gin vacuum-distilled for a smooth, refined taste. Features citrus, florals, and subtle spice notes (tangerine, jasmine, coriander) at 42.5% ABV. Designed for sipping neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.
• Café Solo Coffee liqueur brand inspired by Soho's cocktail bars. Café Solo Original (70cl, 25% ABV) delivers bold, rich flavour with hints of dark fruit acidity, chocolate, and vanilla. Café Solo PX Sherry Cask Finished uses Pedro Ximénez casks for added sweetness and depth. Won World's Best Liqueur Design 2025.
• Cactus Jack's Market-leading party schnapps brand established in 2005. Number 1 largest party shot brand in convenience retail with over 13 million shots sold annually. Flavours include Red Cherry Rebel, Wicked Green Apple, Electric Raspberry, Fruit Salad Frenzy, Cola Kick, Peach Pucker, and Twisted Strawberry & Lime.
• Pampero Rum Venezuelan rum founded in Caracas in 1938. Products include Blanco, Especial, Seleccion, and Aniversario (all 40% ABV). Best-selling rum in Italy (Circana 2023), guaranteed by Denomination of Origin seal. Distributed by Fortitude Drinks UK in the UK.
• Benvenuti Limoncello Premium limoncello made in Italy from Sicilian Femminello and Interdonato lemons, hand-picked by small producers. ABV 28.5%, available in 500ml and 700ml sizes with a modern design paying homage to Sicilian tradition.
• Rozél Rosé Vodka Fruit-forward vodka inspired by Provence rosé wine, featuring flavours of juicy raspberry, white peach, and zesty pink grapefruit blended with pure English vodka. ABV 37.5%. Silver medal winner at The Spirits Business World Vodka Masters 2023.
• Angels Peach Schnapps Peach schnapps brand established in 2006, re-introduced with premium packaging in 2025. Number 2 brand in the UK peach schnapps category, made with natural peach flavours for crisp, juicy sweetness ideal for cocktails.
• Bella Apertini Italian aperitivo with a perfectly balanced bitter-sweet profile at 11% ABV, slightly lower making it effortlessly quaffable. Ideal for the spritz category. Gold winner at World Flavoured & Speciality Spirits Awards 2025.
• Carthy's Cream Liqueur Innovative and accessible cream liqueur balancing flavour, fun, and affordability. Core product Country Cream Original (12% ABV) with velvety chocolatey and caramel notes. Seasonal Strawberries & Cream and Discovery Collection limited editions. 3rd largest Irish/Country cream liqueur (70cl) in UK.
• Cococariba Tropical flavoured rum range featuring Rum & Coconut, Rum & Passion Fruit, and Rum & Strawberry variants (all 700ml). 2nd largest coconut rum liqueur (70cl) in UK. Silver winner at World Liqueur Awards 2024.
• Diabolo Devilishly hot cinnamon and whisky flavour liqueur crafted with fiery cinnamon notes, designed for adventurous consumers seeking bold, spicy flavours. Gold winner as Country Winner (England) at World Liqueur Awards 2025.
• Messer Schmitt Fragrant herbal schnapps with a distinctive feisty flavour, crafted from a secret blend of herbs, spices, and fruit flavours. Gluten-free and suitable for vegans. Available in 50cl and 70cl formats at 22% ABV.
• North Coast Spirits Range Range of pouring spirits designed for on-trade bartenders, including London Dry Gin (37.5% ABV), Premium Vodka (37.5% ABV, grain distilled 5 times), Spiced Coast (35.5% ABV, Caribbean rum with vanilla and exotic spices), and White Rum (35% ABV). All 70cl format.
• Veroni Amaretto Classic almond-flavoured liqueur with a rich, flavorful profile at 15% ABV, offering a lower-alcohol alternative. Perfect for sipping neat, over ice, or in cocktails like the Marzipan Old Fashioned. Available in 50cl, 70cl, and 50cl PMP formats. Silver winner at IWSC 2024.
• Bareksten Norwegian spirits brand featuring Bareksten Botanical Gin (46% ABV with wild blueberries, lingonberries, rhubarb, elderflower, mint), Bareksten Botanical Aquavit (potato-based, finished in Oloroso sherry casks), Bareksten Nordlys Gin (41% ABV, Northern Lights-inspired), and Bareksten Nordlys Vodka (500ml, distilled with pure Norwegian water).
• ICB Distillers Manufacturing & Bottling Services Comprehensive contract spirits production and bottling services from the Middlesbrough facility, including recipe development, distillation using i-Still 2000 technology, pasteurisation, labelling, and bottling in formats from 5cl to 1.5 litres. Produces over 30 million bottles across 500 SKUs annually. BRC AA* accredited and HMRC approved bonded site.
• Fortitude Drinks UK Distribution Services Spirits distribution services covering on-trade and off-trade channels, including under-bond storage with live inventory reporting, Nielsen Brand Bank media and D2C support, field sales campaigns, market data research (Circana, Nielsen, IWSR, Vyper), and purchasing group negotiations. Achieves 99% on-time in-full deliveries. Amazon Sparks vendor partner.

Quantifiable outcome

• 99% on-time in-full delivery rate
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• SEETurtles.orgminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Hawksbill Rum partners with SEETurtles.org — 10% of profits from every Hawksbill Rum bottle sold supports protection of the critically endangered Hawksbill turtle. This partnership aligns brand purpose with environmental conservation while driving consumer engagement.
• Penrhos SpiritscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 November 2025Penrhos Spirits joined Fortitude Drinks UK portfolio from November 2025 as the exclusive UK distributor. Founded on a family fruit farm in Herefordshire, Penrhos is an award-winning craft gin distillery and the first distillery in the world to move from glass to 100% recycled aluminium bottles, cutting packaging carbon footprint by 91%. The range includes multi-award-winning Dry Gin, Rhubarb, Apple & Elderflower, Wonky Raspberry, and Wonky Strawberry.
• Jonathan AshworthminorOthersTestimonial provider citing that the partnership 'just felt a really nice fit with the Fortitude Spirits Group team, given I have known Warren Scott for a number of years.'
• Ed PennyminorOthersTestimonial provider stating 'We've found the ideal partner in Fortitude Drinks who, after our 10 years in the market, are taking the brand to the next level.'
• Marco Seminaroti (Gruppo Montenegro)minorOthersTestimonial provider from Gruppo Montenegro stating 'We have a brilliant, collaborative relationship with Fortitude Drinks UK who have been an incredible partner for our business in the UK.' Pampero Rum is distributed by Fortitude Drinks UK in the UK.
• Amazon Vendor Service (Spark)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFortitude Drinks UK is a preferential Sparks vendor partner with Amazon, enabling direct-to-consumer sales via Amazon with Prime delivery service. The company utilises the Amazon Vendor Service account for online sales.
• Sainsbury'scoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSainsbury's is a key retail customer for Fortitude Spirits brands. Hawksbill Rum Island Spices secured a listing in over 400 Sainsbury's stores across the UK, and Penrhos Spirits achieved a listing in Sainsbury's for their flagship London Dry Gin.

Scale indicators14 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Halewood Artisanal Spirits: UK independent spirits group combining contract bottling, own-brand portfolio (Whitley Neill, Dead Man's Fingers, Crabbie's), and nationwide distribution; structurally near-identical to Fortitude across all three pillars including the UK on/off-trade go-to-market model.
• Speciality Brands (part of C&C Group): UK premium spirits distributor (part of C&C Group plc) covering on-trade and off-trade; competes head-to-head with Fortitude Drinks UK for premium spirits listings, on-trade accounts, and luxury retail partnerships.
• Quintessential Brands Group: UK and Ireland independent spirits group with brand development, contract bottling, and international distribution; the closest structural peer and was founded/led by Warren Scott (now Fortitude's Chairman). Operates similar end-to-end model across own brands (Greenall's, Opihr, Dubliner) and third-party manufacturing.
• Ian Macleod Distillers: Family-owned UK independent spirits company owning and distributing brands (Tamdhu, Glengoyne, Edinburgh Gin, Smokehead) with its own bottling infrastructure; comparable as a UK indie brand owner-distributor competing for the same supermarket and on-trade shelf.

Broad incumbents

• Diageo: Global spirits giant and largest UK-listed distiller; competes with Fortitude Drinks UK for on-trade account share and with ICB Distillers for contract bottling volumes, while also being a source of senior leadership talent (CEO Ed Cottrell spent 14 years there).
• Pernod Ricard: Global spirits major with deep UK presence (Jameson, Absolut, Malibu, Beefeater, The Glenlivet); represents both a competitive threat in the on-trade account contest and a potential acquirer of indie brands Fortitude distributes.
• William Grant & Sons: Private UK spirits company (Glenfiddich, Hendrick's, Monkey Shoulder, Tullamore D.E.W.); a broad UK indie incumbent against which Fortitude's premium portfolio and on-trade strategy are benchmarked, and a prior employer of CEO Ed Cottrell.
• Edrington: UK privately-held spirits company (The Macallan, The Famous Grouse, Highland Park, Cutty Sark); an established UK independent incumbent with similar on/off-trade distribution and premium brand-building expertise.

Emerging players

• Funkin Cocktails: UK-based RTD cocktail specialist brand (now part of AG Barr); competes with Gin & Juice by Dre & Snoop in UK canned cocktails, and is the prior employer of Fortitude's Supply Chain Director, indicating close talent and category overlap.
• Brewdog Distilling Co. UK craft brewer/distiller with own-brand spirits (Longridge, Aber) and nationwide on-trade distribution; an emerging independent with overlapping craft credentials and similar bar/restaurant account strategy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fortitude-spirits-group

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fortitude Spirits Group