The 99 Proof Partners co-founder joins the Scottish spirits maker to lead its United States market entry

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Sept. 30, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Rutland Square Spirits, the Edinburgh-based spirits company built on the fusion of Scottish craft and Indian heritage, today announced the appointment of Mike Solow as Head of U.S. Operations. Solow, a Founding Partner at 99 Proof Partners, will lead Rutland Square's go-to-market strategy, distributor and retail partnerships, and commercial build-out as the brand enters the United States, working closely with Taylor Foxman, Founder & CEO of The Industry Collective, who was recently named Strategic Advisor to support the same effort.

Leadership Perspective

"Mike has spent his career helping beverage alcohol brands raise capital and scale — he understands what it takes to build a distributor network and win shelf space in this market better than almost anyone we could have brought in," said Nishant Sharma, Founder & CEO of Rutland Square Spirits. "Having him lead our U.S. build-out gives us the operating experience and the relationships to move quickly."

"Rutland Square's story is unlike anything else on the shelf, and the category is wide open for a brand with this kind of authenticity behind it," said Solow. "I'm looking forward to building the U.S. business alongside Nishant and Taylor and bringing Rutland Square to American consumers."

About Mike Solow

Mike Solow is a Founding Partner at 99 Proof Partners, a boutique private equity group providing capital and revenue enhancement solutions to high-growth brands in the beverage alcohol industry. 99 Proof has become a thought leader in the space, trusted by brands, advisors, and investment groups alike; Solow and his partners leverage an extensive industry network, brand-building advisory background, and M&A experience to fuel capital deployment, brand growth, and returns for investors, through both an equity fund and Cask Strength, its creative debt solution for producers in the CPG industry.

Solow brings more than 20 years of business development leadership, with a focus on growth and scale, sales strategy, and customer retention, to help organizations drive top-line revenue growth. He has started and grown several companies, trained high-performing sales teams, and sold products and services for startups and Fortune 500 companies alike, and has advised more than 200 beverage entrepreneurs on equity, debt, and growth strategy. He is based in Boise, Idaho.

About Rutland Square Spirits

Founded in Edinburgh in 2021 by Nishant Sharma, Rutland Square Spirits produces tea-infused spirits rooted in a three-generation family story spanning Assam, India, and Scotland. Its debut release, a chai-spiced, Oolong white-tea-infused London dry gin, was followed by a sherry-cask-matured tea-infused rum, with whisky expressions in development. The brand has scaled to roughly 100,000 cases and a valuation of approximately £30 million (US$40 million), with backing that includes a 21% investment from actor and entrepreneur Vivek Oberoi. Rutland Square is part of the Spiritus platform of beverage brands and is building its U.S. go-to-market strategy under the direction of Head of U.S. Operations Mike Solow.

Media Contact
Mike Solow Head of U.S. Operations, Rutland Square Spirits
423691@email4pr.com
214-500-5655

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rutland-square-spirits-names-mike-solow-head-of-us-operations-302893760.html

SOURCE Rutland Square Spirits