Behind every mojito on Ocean Drive and every espresso martini in Wynwood is a supply chain most guests never see: a sales rep who knows the bar manager by name, a delivery window that fits before the lunch rush, and an invoice that has to match the point of sale system. On January 1, 2027, a big part of that chain changes for Florida bars, restaurants, and retailers that pour or stock Bacardi brands.
Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Coral Gables, announced on October 28, 2026 that it signed new United States distribution agreements with Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits and Reyes Beverage Group, effective January 1, 2027. The details are in the official Bacardi announcement, and The Spirits Business reported the same deal on October 29.
The plain version: starting January 1, 2027, Reyes Beverage Group becomes the Bacardi distributor in Florida for the first time, so South Florida on-premise and retail buyers should talk with their current Southern Glazer's rep and their incoming Reyes contact before December to lock in first quarter 2027 orders, pricing, and account setup.
What Should South Florida Buyers Do Before January 1?
The most useful move is simple: ask questions early and get answers in writing. Distribution transitions usually go smoothly when buyers know who their new contact is, how to place orders, and when the first deliveries arrive. The Bacardi release does not spell out account level details, so those answers have to come directly from the distributors.
A practical checklist for bar managers, beverage directors, and store buyers:
- Ask your current Southern Glazer's rep which Bacardi items you buy today and what your last order date through them will be.
- Get the name, phone, and email of your incoming Reyes Beverage Group contact.
- Confirm how ordering, delivery days, and minimums will work after January 1.
- Ask how credit terms and account applications will be handled with the new distributor.
- Ask about any allocated or limited items you rely on, and how allocations will carry over.
- Update vendor IDs in your point of sale, inventory, and accounts payable systems so January invoices match.
- Build first quarter 2027 menus and promotions with the transition in mind, and finalize plans before December.
What Changes in Florida
According to the Bacardi release, Reyes Beverage Group will carry the Bacardi portfolio for the first time in 11 markets: Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
For Florida accounts, that means the company delivering and selling Bacardi brands changes on January 1, 2027. The brands named in the release include Bacardi rum, Patron tequila, GREY GOOSE vodka, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, CAZADORES tequila, ANGEL'S ENVY whisky, and ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur. Those are staples on many South Florida back bars, from hotel pool decks to neighborhood liquor stores.
What the release does not state: which specific items move on which day, what credit terms will look like, or how allocations will be set. Those details are UNKNOWN from public sources and should come from your reps.
What Stays the Same Elsewhere
Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits continues as the Bacardi distributor or broker in 36 states, including Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Southern Glazer's CEO Wayne E. Chaplin said in the release that the company remains Bacardi's largest distributor by volume in the United States.
For South Florida operators with locations in other states, this split matters. A restaurant group with a Miami flagship and a New York outpost may work with Reyes in Florida and Southern Glazer's in New York for the same Bacardi brands. Mapping distributors by location now helps head office purchasing avoid surprises in January.
Who Is Reyes Beverage Group?
Reyes Beverage Group is a large beer and beverage distributor. The About section of the Bacardi release lists distributorships including Florida Distributing Company and Gold Coast Beverage, and describes 54 facilities, more than 9,300 people, more than 320 million cases a year, and more than 115,000 retail accounts.
Many South Florida accounts may already know Reyes through beer. Gold Coast Beverage and Florida Distributing Company are familiar names to bar and store buyers in parts of the state. For those accounts, the Bacardi transition could mean consolidating some ordering with a distributor they already use. Buyers can ask their Reyes beer contacts whether that will be the case for their accounts.
What the Companies Said
Tony Latham, Bacardi North America Regional President, Wayne E. Chaplin of Southern Glazer's, and Tom Day, CEO of Reyes Beverage Group, are all quoted in the Bacardi announcement. The full statements are in the Bacardi release, which frames the agreements as a new structure for the brand's United States distribution starting in 2027.
A Coral Gables Company Reshaping Its Home Market
Bacardi's announcement carried a Coral Gables dateline, a reminder that the company behind these brands is based in Miami-Dade. A change in how its brands reach Florida accounts lands close to home.
The timing also matters for hospitality. The transition arrives right after the busiest stretch of the South Florida calendar. December brings Art Basel crowds, holiday parties, and New Year's Eve, as covered in the Gazette's Art Basel Miami Beach local businesses guide. Operators who stock up for December should plan their last pre-transition orders carefully so January starts without gaps.
Retailers and Neighborhood Stores
Independent liquor stores and markets face the same questions as bars, plus shelf planning. Holiday sales and the Small Business Saturday rush, outlined in the Gazette's Black Friday Shop Small playbook, can draw down inventory heading into the cutover. Store owners can ask both distributors about order timing in late December and first deliveries in early January.
For neighborhood bars and cafes that double as community gathering spots, consistent supply keeps regulars happy. The Gazette's South Florida third place economy map shows how many of these local venues anchor their blocks, which is one more reason to start the conversation with reps now rather than in January.
Sources
- Bacardi Limited: Bacardi announces new distribution agreements in United States (Oct. 28, 2026)
- The Spirits Business: Bacardi agrees distribution deal with Reyes (Oct. 29, 2026)
Related
- Art Basel Miami Beach 2026 local businesses guide
- SoFla Black Friday Shop Small owner playbook
- South Florida third place economy map
Key Facts for Owners and Search
Who will distribute Bacardi in Florida in 2027?
Starting January 1, 2027, Reyes Beverage Group becomes the Bacardi portfolio distributor in Florida for the first time, according to Bacardi's October 28, 2026 announcement from Coral Gables. Florida is one of 11 Reyes markets, along with Arizona, California, Colorado, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and Texas.
Which Bacardi brands are part of the portfolio?
The Bacardi release names Bacardi rum, Patron tequila, GREY GOOSE vodka, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, CAZADORES tequila, ANGEL'S ENVY whisky, and ST-GERMAIN elderflower liqueur. Buyers should confirm with their reps exactly which items they purchase today will move to Reyes and when the first orders can be placed through the new distributor.
Does Southern Glazer's still carry Bacardi anywhere?
Yes. Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits continues as Bacardi's distributor or broker in 36 states, including Illinois, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Its CEO, Wayne E. Chaplin, said the company remains Bacardi's largest United States distributor by volume. Multistate restaurant groups may work with different distributors for the same brands depending on location.
What should bars and restaurants ask their reps?
Ask your current Southern Glazer's rep about your last order date and items affected, then get your incoming Reyes contact. Confirm delivery days, order minimums, credit applications, and how any allocated items carry over. Public sources do not list credit terms or allocation formulas, so get those answers directly from the distributors, ideally in writing.
How can owners avoid gaps during the January cutover?
Plan December orders with the holiday rush in mind, finalize first quarter 2027 menus and promotions before December, and update vendor IDs in point of sale, inventory, and accounts payable systems. Ask both distributors about late December order timing and first January deliveries so shelves and back bars stay stocked through the switch.
