Acquisition closed
Suntory acquires Jim Beam and Maker's Mark
Suntory bought Beam Inc. for $83.50 a share in cash, creating Beam Suntory and making the Japanese family-controlled group one of the largest spirits companies in the world.
Who owns Maker's Mark?
Maker's Mark is owned by Suntory (Japan), which acquired the brand on 30 April 2014 from Beam, as part of a $16 billion deal that also included Jim Beam.[1] Before Suntory, Maker's Mark was owned by Beam from 2011 to 2014.[1]
This ownership is reported in official statements but has not yet been matched to a regulatory filing.
Evidence: Suntory Holdings — our brands, Suntory Holdings Limited. Last checked .
Key facts
- Current owner
- Suntory Holdings Limited reported
- Owned since
- · deal details
- Deal price (whole deal)
- $16 billion (enterprise value) for 2 brands
- Previous owner
- Beam (2011–2014)
- Owner HQ
- 🇯🇵 Japan, Osaka
- Origin
- 🇺🇸 United States, Kentucky
- Founded
- 1953
- Category
- Beverages › Spirits › Whisky & bourbon
- Last verified
- · 1 sources
About Maker's Mark
Maker's Mark is a wheated bourbon first sold in 1958, using wheat rather than rye as the secondary grain, which gives a softer character. Each bottle is dipped in red wax by hand. A 2013 attempt to cut the proof to stretch supply was reversed within a week after customer objections.
Ownership timeline of Maker's Mark
- 2011 – 2014 Beam — sold 30 April 2014 [1] reported
- 2014 – present Suntory — acquired 30 April 2014 [1] reported
Where Maker's Mark sits in Suntory
Controlling ownership as of . Brands grouped under the entity that owns them; large groups are collapsed.
Open the full Suntory ownership tree →
See the full Suntory brand portfolio (8) →
Other brands owned by Suntory
Suntory controls 8 brands on Brandtree, 8 of them in beverages.
Also in beverages
Other brands in whisky & bourbon, and who owns them
The 71 brands in whisky & bourbon on Brandtree belong to 26 owners. The largest is Diageo, with 9; Suntory has 4.
| Brand | Owner | Owner based in |
|---|---|---|
| Buchanan's | Diageo | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Black Velvet | Heaven Hill | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Blood Oath | MGP | 🇺🇸 United States |
| anCnoc | ThaiBev | 🇹🇭 Thailand |
| Jura | Emperador | 🇵🇭 Philippines |
| Glenfiddich | William Grant & Sons | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Jack Daniel's | Brown-Forman | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Highland Park | Edrington | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
About the owner: Suntory
Suntory is a privately held company headquartered in Osaka, Japan, founded in 1899. Brandtree records 8 brands under its control.
Suntory was founded in Osaka in 1899 and pioneered Japanese whisky at the Yamazaki distillery from 1923. The holding company is unlisted and controlled by the Kotobuki foundation associated with the founding Torii family; its 2014 purchase of Beam made it one of the largest spirits groups in the world.
🇺🇸 Maker's Mark and other American brands
Brandtree records a controlling owner for 2,550 brands that began in the United States. 479 of them (19%) are now controlled by a company headquartered in another country, Maker's Mark among them.
- 7UP — PepsiCo 🇺🇸
- 7UP (United States) — Keurig Dr Pepper 🇺🇸
- Alani Nu — Celsius Holdings 🇺🇸
- André — Gallo 🇺🇸
- Angry Orchard — Boston Beer 🇺🇸
- Apple & Eve — Lassonde 🇨🇦
Deals involving Maker's Mark
Frequently asked questions
Who is the parent company of Maker's Mark?
The parent company of Maker's Mark is Suntory, a privately held company headquartered in Japan.
Is Maker's Mark American or Japanese?
Maker's Mark originated in the United States in 1953, but it is owned today by Suntory, which is headquartered in Japan. So Maker's Mark is an American-origin brand under Japanese ownership.
When did Suntory buy Maker's Mark?
Suntory completed its acquisition of Maker's Mark on 30 April 2014, after announcing the deal on 13 January 2014. The deal, which also included Jim Beam, was valued at $16 billion (enterprise value).
Who owned Maker's Mark before Suntory?
Before Suntory, Maker's Mark was owned by Beam from 2011 until 2014.
Is Maker's Mark still owned by Suntory?
Yes. As of 25 September 2026, Maker's Mark is still owned by Suntory. The ownership record was last checked against primary sources on that date.
Sources (1) & corrections
Last verified . Every ownership fact above is backed by one of these primary documents. Numbers in brackets in the text refer to this list.
- [1] Suntory Holdings — our brands — Suntory Holdings Limited, Official document; retrieved 16 September 2026.
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