Next Century Spirits (NCS) announces the acquisition of Blue Chair Bay Rum, a key move in expanding its presence into the premium rum category. 

This award-winning spirit, the world’s largest independently owned rum, was created and built by East Tennessee songwriter/superstar Kenny Chesney and has sold millions of cases to date. Chesney will continue to infuse his vision as one of NCS’s largest percentage owners and will play an integral role moving forward.

“Blue Chair Bay Rum has endless potential, and we’re excited to bring it into the NCS family,” Anthony Moniello, Co-CEO of Next Century Spirits, said in a news release. “Kenny created something special – a great tasting rum with a rich story. At NCS, we’re building a team of fast-moving entrepreneurs and a portfolio of bold, unique brands for the next generation of spirits drinkers. Adding Kenny and Blue Chair Bay to our vision is another incredible step forward.”

“Blue Chair Bay Rum was created to capture my life, as a spirit to share with friends,” Chesney said. “This rum is the result of a lot of fun, passion, sunshine, good people and No Shoes Nation energy. Next Century Spirits embraces those same qualities. They have a passion for innovation and going to new places. This is going to be cool.”

The NCS-Chesney alliance continues a groundbreaking season for the country artist. Known for his high intensity record-breaking tours, Chesney becomes the first country act to headline Vegas’ Sphere starting May 22, 2025.

“Teaming up with Kenny is a natural fit for NCS, and we are excited that he will play an active role in the company,” Rob Mason, Co-CEO of Next Century Spirits, said. “Blue Chair Bay Rum strengthens our vision and marks another step in accelerating our growth as we work to shape the spirits of tomorrow.”

Read more: Top 100 American Whiskeys of 2024 Ranked

About Next Century Spirits

Next Century Spirits (NCS), headquartered in Zebulon, North Carolina, is a full-service distilled spirits company, building a strategically developed portfolio of owned brands and offering private label solutions, co-packing, and bulk supply. NCS seeks to redefine what’s possible in spirits production with its patented Spiranova process, which accelerates flavor transformation using natural ingredients. For more information, visit https://www.nextcenturyspirits.com/.