Hilco is seeking offers to acquire the intellectual property assets of Esker Spirits Limited (“Esker” or the “Company”) on behalf of our Client.
Founded in 2015, Esker is a premium Scottish craft distillery based on Royal Deeside, producing small-batch spirits with a strong focus on provenance, flavour, and distinctive botanical composition. The Esker brand sits within the premium end of the UK and export spirits markets, combining traditional copper-still distillation with a differentiated ingredient profile rooted in its Highland surroundings.
Developed through founder-led formulation and ongoing refinement, Esker has developed a portfolio spanning gin, vodka and other premium spirits.. Esker’s range includes gins designed to deliver a full, rounded flavour profile, whether served neat or with mixers and garnishes. A key point of differentiation is the Company’s use of locally harvested silver birch sap from the nearby Kincardine Estate, combined with carefully selected botanicals to create a recognisable flavour signature. Esker’s emphasis on place-based ingredients and craft processes helps the brand stand out in a crowded premium craft spirits category.
The Company’s range includes Esker’s signature gin alongside a growing portfolio of premium spirits, including flavoured vodkas, seasonal variants and limited-edition releases, all positioned at the premium end of the market. The brand has received multiple industry accolades, including recognition from the International Wine & Spirit Competition, supporting its credibility with both distributors and retail partners. Esker has also invested in a cohesive brand identity aligned with the Scottish Highlands, supported by distinctive packaging, experiential marketing, and direct-to-consumer engagement.
More recently, the brand has broadened its positioning beyond a purely local narrative, while retaining its Scottish heritage and quality credentials. As part of this repositioning, Esker has aligned itself with après-ski culture and adopted a more contemporary visual identity, including a refreshed bottle design featuring a white frosted bottle and a clean white printed logo, giving the brand a more modern, design-led premium aesthetic while preserving its craft credentials.
The Company has also secured listings with major multinational retail chains, including the supply of flavoured vodka into Sainsbury’s. This demonstrates the brand’s ability to achieve national retail distribution and appeal across the premium spirits category. In addition to its core range, Esker has expanded its product offering through further spirits development, including Honey Whisky and Coconut Rum.
This opportunity offers a purchaser the chance to acquire an established Scottish premium spirits brand with distinctive formulations, recognised quality credentials, and strong provenance to leverage existing brand equity and market positioning to expand distribution and capitalise on continued demand for authentic, craft-led premium spirits.
The Esker brand has established itself as a distinctive name within the premium craft spirits market. Built around provenance-led production, innovative flavour profiles, and a strong connection to the Scottish Highlands, the brand resonates with consumers, on-trade venues, and specialist retailers seeking authentic, high-quality small-batch spirits.
At the heart of the brand is a commitment to place-based ingredients and craft distillation. Esker’s formulations incorporate locally sourced silver birch sap alongside carefully selected botanicals and fruit ingredients used across its gin and vodka products, creating a recognisable flavour profile that differentiates the products within the premium craft spirits category. Combined with traditional copper-still distillation and a flavour-first philosophy, the brand positions itself as both artisanal and contemporary.
In recent years, Esker has evolved its positioning beyond a purely regional narrative, broadening its appeal while retaining its authentic Scottish heritage. A refreshed visual identity, including a sleek white frosted bottle and contemporary branding, alongside lifestyle associations such as après-ski culture, gives the brand a modern, design-led premium aesthetic aligned with its target demographic.
The strength of the Esker brand is reinforced through consistent industry recognition, having received 24 major awards for taste, including multiple gold medals from respected competitions such as the International Wine & Spirit Competition, Great Taste Awards, Gin Masters, and the London Spirits Awards.
Acquiring the Esker brand presents an opportunity to enter or strengthen a position within the premium spirits segment through an established brand combining strong provenance, award-winning formulations, and recognised brand equity.
The Company holds registered trade marks protecting the “Esker” brand name and visual identity.
Full details on the Company’s trade marks is available via a virtual data room.
A key component of the Company’s intellectual property portfolio lies in its proprietary formulations, production methods, and operational know-how, including recipes and formulation data underpinning its core spirits, seasonal variants, and ready-to-serve cocktails, covering ingredient combinations, botanical selection, infusion techniques, flavour profiling, and batch production processes. Together, these elements create Esker’s distinctive flavour signatures and represent one of the most commercially valuable aspects of Esker’s portfolio. Supporting this are the Company’s craft distillation processes, combining traditional copper-still methods with carefully controlled small-batch production and incorporating locally sourced botanicals.
The Company is also likely to hold unregistered design rights in its product presentation, including the distinctive bottle design, frosted finish, logo placement, and overall visual identity. Collectively, these elements contribute to the brand’s recognisable identity and differentiation within the premium spirits market.
The Company holds a portfolio of domain names, including the core eskerspirits.com domain, together with an array of supplementary domains supporting product lines, and potential future brand extensions.
The Company is likely to own the copyright in the website content historically hosted across these domains, including product descriptions, brand storytelling, visual assets, and supporting materials highlighting its recipes and premium craft heritage.
Rights in the Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Twitter and TikTok social media accounts are also available to acquire.
The Company was a listed supplier to multiple large retail chains and likely holds records relating to both historic and recent engagements.
On receipt of a signed non-disclosure agreement (NDA) access will be provided to a virtual data room housing additional information. To access the NDA please click the link, sign and return via email to [email protected]
Hilco is acting as exclusive agent to the Company and its Client in connection with the proposed sale of some or all of the Company’s intellectual property assets.
All sales are made strictly on an “as is, where is” basis. Only such right, title and interest (if any) as the Company may have in the assets will be transferred to a purchaser. No warranties, guarantees, or representations (express or implied) are provided by the Company, the Client, or Hilco in respect of the assets or any information supplied. All parties must rely on their own enquiries and due diligence. Any information provided is for convenience only and has not been independently verified.
All offers are subject to the addition of VAT at the prevailing rate, where applicable. A non-refundable deposit equal to 20% of the agreed purchase price must be paid by the successful purchaser within 48 hours of offer acceptance. Payment of the deposit grants the purchaser the exclusive right to proceed with the acquisition of the relevant assets for a limited period and on the terms agreed.
A Buyer’s Premium of 10% of the final purchase price is payable by the successful purchaser in addition to the agreed purchase price, is non-negotiable and is payable at the same time and in the same manner as the purchase price and forms a condition of sale.
Legal completion must occur within five (5) business days of offer acceptance, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the Company and its Client.
