Kenny Chesney and Constellation Spirits Form Joint Venture to Develop New Rum

Kenny Chesney and Constellation Spirits Form Joint Venture to Develop New Rum

CHICAGO, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- Constellation Spirits, a division of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE:STZ) and one of the world's leading spirits companies, today announced a partnership with Billboard magazine chart-topper and country music superstar Kenny Chesney to develop a new premium rum. The joint venture, Crouton Spirits, LLC, will develop the rum. Rum is one of the fastest growing sectors in the spirits industry.

"We are ecstatic to partner with megastar Kenny Chesney to create a unique premium rum for a generation of consumers who are embracing the cocktail culture," said Marty Birkel, President of Constellation Spirits. "The attributes and positioning of this rum will capture Kenny's free-spirited personality and lifestyle that his millions of fans have come to expect, know and love."

Under the terms of the agreement, Constellation Spirits and Chesney will work together on every aspect of the development, marketing and advertising elements, as well as product positioning of the rum.

"As an entertainer, my goal is to create an enjoyable experience for people," said Chesney. "I'm going to take that same approach in developing a high-quality rum product with Constellation. We're looking to create a fun-in-the-sun, vacation-in-a-bottle type experience that people everywhere can enjoy when they kick back and relax."

About Constellation Spirits Inc.

Constellation Spirits Inc., headquartered in Chicago, is the spirits division of Constellation Brands, Inc. Constellation Spirits is a major producer, importer and exporter of a wide range of distilled spirits products, including well-known premium brands such as Black Velvet Canadian whisky, 1792 Ridgemont Reserve bourbon, and SVEDKA and Effen vodkas.

About Constellation Brands, Inc.

Constellation Brands, Inc. is a leading international producer and marketer of beverage alcohol in the wine, spirits and imported beer categories, with significant market presence in the U.S., Canada, U.K., Australia and New Zealand. Based in Fairport, N.Y., the company has more than 250 brands, sales in about 150 countries and operates more than 60 facilities worldwide. It is also the largest wine producer in the world and an S&P 500 Index and Fortune 500(R) company. Major brands in the company's portfolio, in addition to those referenced above, include Corona, Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Ravenswood, Blackstone, Hardys, Banrock Station, Nobilo, Kim Crawford, Inniskillin, Jackson-Triggs and Arbor Mist.

About Kenny Chesney

Kenny Chesney is the three-time and reigning Academy of Country Music Entertainer of the Year, and four-time and current Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year. Chesney is a Luttrel, Tennessee-born, and-raised, singer/songwriter known for his high energy performances.

Source: Constellation Spirits Inc.

CONTACT: Jed Shein, +1-312-755-3504, or Lisa Trafficanta,
+1-312-755-3541, both of Constellation Spirits Inc.

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