Distell has picked up 35 awards at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) across its whisky portfolio – which includes Bunnahahbain, Tobermory, Deanston, Black Bottle and Scottish Leader. Four of Distell’s achieved awards were outstanding gold awards, the highest honour bestowed at the IWSC.
Deanston Distillery claimed seven trophies from the prestigious awarding bodies, three of which were gold medals for its Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, including Virgin Oak, Heritage Sherry Cask which is exclusive to the Taiwan market, and 18-Year-Old expressions. Deanston’s Virgin Oak was awarded the top prize in the Scotch whisky category scoring an outstanding 99 points out of a hundred. The Highland distillery, located by the banks of the River Teith, is known for its uniquely waxy, soft, honeyed signature style of spirit.
Amongst Distell’s impressive roster, Black Bottle, a bold and smoky blend with unique character, picked up four medals from the IWSC judges with all four expressions in the range winning an impressive gold award. This included another two of the top prizes of Gold Outstanding being awarded to Black Bottle’s Double Cask & Island Smoke, the first releases from the newly launched Limited Edition Alchemy Series
Islay’s most remote distillery, Bunnahabhain, collected a gold medal for its Toiteach A Dha single malt, as well as an impressive 11 silver medals. Unlike most Islay distilleries, Bunnahabhain single malts are known for being predominantly unpeated and sherried, with awards across key expressions that embody this distillery style, including 12, 18, 25 and 30 Year-Olds.
Meanwhile, Tobermory Distillery on the idyllic Isle of Mull celebrated two silver awards for its core 12-Year-Old, and limited edition, Hebridean Series Edition 1 (23-Year-Old) expressions, the first of five releases, as well as awards across the entire Tobermory Gin portfolio (the Hebridean Core, Mountain and Coastal Gins). This boutique distillery is located in the centre of the vibrant Tobermory bay, and produces 3 distinctive spirits: unpeated Tobermory, Smokey Ledaig and Tobermory Gin.
Chiara Giovanacci, Distell’s Global Brand Lead for Single Malts said: “We are so excited to have been presented with such an amazing selection of trophies from the International Wine & Spirits Competition, and it can only reflect the incredible work of the teams at Tobermory, Deanston and Bunnahabhain distilleries.
“On behalf of each distillery, we are immensely proud that our diverse portfolio of expressions has been awarded with such a brilliant selection of accolades from this globally recognised organization.”
Blended Scotch whisky, Scottish Leader, secured five trophies at the IWSC including the Gold Outstanding award for its rich, sweet & distinctive 12-Year-Old. Four silver accolades for its Sherry Cask Finish, Supreme, Original and Signature expressions were also awarded giving the whole range this prestigious honour.
Amy Burns, Global Brand Lead for Blended Whisky said, “It’s been an incredible roster of award wins for both Black Bottle & Scottish Leader, receiving nine medals overall. The entire Black Bottle range won a gold award, with our both of our latest Black Bottle Alchemy Series Limited Editions & Scottish Leader 12 Year Old all receiving the prestigious top prize of ‘Gold Outstanding’ award, so we are delighted with the outcome and being recognised by a panel of such esteemed judges.”
A young business start-up that specialises in manufacturing small batches of spiced rums has seen its search traffic grow by 100% and its turnover increase by 65% over the last few months following support from Business Gateway and the DigitalBoost initiative.
Strathaven-based husband and wife team Matt and Becky Hunt obtained their distiller’s license in May 2021 and began to make their rum from scratch – an unusual practice within the UK as rum is typically imported and redistilled. The rum, called Old Mother Hunt, was the result of research into a ‘pandemic proof’ product and co-founder Becky Hunt explains, “We conducted market research to find out what was popular in Scotland. As the drinks market is saturated by gin, we decided to distil rum and learn about the process and flavours. We then approached Business Gateway for help to launch the business.”
Becky said: “In the beginning, setting up on our own gave us something to focus on during the pandemic. However, now we have a thriving business that includes a core range of rum, silver, spiced and golden, as well as special limited-edition flavours. We’ve become specialists in a short space of time, deliberately distilling our rum in small batches, so we can continue to craft the perfect rum and hone on the distinctive flavours of each rum.
“We are now growing after a relatively short period, all while juggling the challenges of the pandemic and raising a young family. Business Gateway has been a key partner to us throughout this period, and ensured we know as much about running a business as we do about rum.”
Keith Elrick, adviser, Business Gateway, said, “Old Mother Hunt is working in a crowded market., but Becky and Matt have worked hard to carve out a portion of the industry and provide a welcome new offering for customers.
“They have made full use of the diverse support provided by the Business Gateway services, which has helped them upskill and grow their business. For anyone else in a similar position, we would encourage them to contact their local Business Gateway office.”
Eden Mill has secured investment from Inverlieth LLP which will see the company push forward with the development of its single malt carbon-neutral distillery in St Andrews that is due to open at the end of this year.It will also enable the company to expand distribution in both the UK and in international markets.
Eden Mill, established in 2012 by Tony Kelly and Paul Miller, produces a range of gins, drawing on inspiration from the local area, and experiment with techniques including cask ageing.
Following the majority investment by Inverleith LLP, Eden Mill St Andrews founder Paul Miller will lead the business as managing director, supported by a new senior executive leadership team and a newly formed board of directors, which are in the process of being established.
Paul Miller, managing director and founder of Eden Mill, said: “‘This is a really exciting moment for Eden Mill St Andrews. Having secured Inverleith LLP as the majority investor into the business, we will be able to realise our distillery ambition and unlock the potential of Eden Mill St Andrews as a premium craft gin and premium single malt scotch whisky here in the UK and overseas.
“We have been looking for an investor who shares our passion for the Eden Mill opportunity, who understands the uniqueness of the opportunity and is aligned to our vision.
“With their consumer strategic brand and commercial expertise, I am confident that we have found the right partner to take drive and support the next and most significant stage of the Eden Milljourney. I’m looking forward as Managing Director to working closely with the team at Inverleith.”
Paul Skipworth, managing partner of Inverleith LLP, added: “This is a fantastic addition to Inverleith’s portfolio of premium consumer brands. Having worked closely with the historic and acclaimed University of St Andrews to secure a site on its sustainability campus in St Andrews, the globally renowned ‘Home of Golf’, Eden Mill St Andrews has one of the most exciting futures within premium gin and whisky and we are delighted to be supporting the realisation of its vision.
“As a team, we have a long heritage in the development of premium spirits, both operationally and as investors, and we believe we will be a strong partner for Paul Miller and the wider Eden Mill team over the coming years. We admire the work that Eden Mill has done to date in developing high quality, great-tasting gins and scotch whiskies and we look forward to helping the brand and its products achieve international success.”
Eden Mill were advised in the transaction by Johnston Carmichael and Burges Salmon’s Corporate Finance team advised Inverleith Limited Partnership on the majority acquisition of Eden Mill.
The Burges Salmon team advising on the transaction was led from the firm’s Edinburgh office by Corporate Finance partner Danny Lee, with support from senior associate Katie Carter and other members of the firm’s Commercial, Employment, Intellectual Property, Real Estate, and Planning teams.
Danny Lee commented, “We are pleased to have assisted Inverleith LLP on this significant acquisition which will allow Eden Mill to expand distribution in the UK and abroad.”
Bacardi have launched a new alcohol-free spirit with the unveiling of Bacardi Palette Roots and Ricardo Palette Bold.The new spirit, designed for non-alcoholic cocktails, are the result of a collaboration with bartenders from Amsterdam. It will initially launch across bars in Amsterdam, Paris and London.
Palette Roots is made with juniper berries, cloves, cinnamon and ginger while Palette Bold is designed to taste like an aged spirit with woody, smoky notes.
Marine Rozenfeld, innovation development lead for Bacardi Europe, Australia and New Zealand, said: “Palette is the perfect choice for creative bartenders looking to mix things up behind the bar. I can’t wait to see how they use Palette to flex their creative muscles with non-alcoholic cocktails in a way that’s never been possible before.
“With the launch of Palette coming hot on the heels of our new Martini Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo with its groundbreaking quality and taste, we are definitely taking mindful drinking to new heights.”
The independently owned, premium drinks company 31DOVER has changed its name to SPIRIT.ED.
SPIRIT.ED, which has three parts to the business – Online, Trade and Agency – was founded in 2012 on Dover Street, London. Since then it has grown into an award-winning business which finds, launches, and sells premium drinks.
They hired branding agency Household and tasked them with developing a new name for the business that would not only refresh the brand but position it ‘at the front and centre of the minds of consumers and the trade’.
CEO Charlotte Jefferies said, “We wanted a name that both reflected our team’s energy, as well as being more closely associated with our focus on selling premium drinks. We felt SPIRIT.ED hit this dual brief and would be memorable for both our online consumers and Central London trade customers. We have built up an excellent reputation for innovation and service across all three parts of our business and we wanted a name that reflects the company as we are now.”
“We are updating our website, including new imagery, so that the drinks buying experience can be as enjoyable as other aspirational consumer categories such as fashion and homeware.”
“We’re delighted with the range of brands who have entrusted their Agency business to us, including Lady A Rosé, Portofino Gin, Nuet Aquavit, Noam Beer, Xamán Mezcal and Suncamino Floral Rum, and our team are focused on launching and growing these brands through our Online and Trade businesses. Over the last year we have onboarded over 160 new Central London premium Trade customers, delivering a range of over 1,000 products next day as standard.
And we have further refined our range Online, focusing on a shortlist of products that look as good as they taste, and which we deliver UK-wide.”
St. Boswells Distillery, in the Scottish Borders, has been granted planning permission to create Scotland’s lowest carbon grain distillery. Developers Jackson Distillers aim to produce 20m litres of alcohol a year and provide the grain spirit for scotch whisky blending as well as for gin and vodka.
It plans to use locally grown cereals from the surrounding Tweed Valley, and it will maximise recycling with no waste going to landfill along with implementing the latest in distilling technology.
As well as creating 200 construction roles along with 20 permanent jobs. Construction is due to commence in 2022 with the first spirit produced in 2024.
Trevor Jackson, founder and CEO of Jackson Distillers, said: “This is another significant step forward in the process to create the Scottish Borders’ first major grain distillery.
“We have had great support for our proposals from local stakeholders across the region and have worked closely with Scottish Borders Council to ensure we created plans that fit into the landscape, present climate change mitigation opportunities and support the local community
A spokesperson added: “The approved planning application will facilitate a £46 million investment in the local economy.”
Sustainable can be applied to everything from packaging to production methods to transport and the raw ingredients used to create a spirit in the first place. With no hard and fast definition of the term, it is helpful to look at the possibilities behind a brand’s claim to sustainability.
An average bottle of 750ml distilled spirit costs around 6.5 pounds of carbon dioxide. That’s the same as driving roughly six miles in a Land Rover. This comes from the distillation and packaging process, where glass is by far the most common container.
Waste water accounts for a good deal of distilled alcohol’s sustainability issues. A litre of alcohol will take 15 litres of water to produce. The process renders this water toxic and expensive to treat, but as we’ll see, there are some exciting methods for reducing, re-using or cleaning this water.
Finding ways to reduce carbon and waste water creation are big hitters when it comes to sustainability in spirits. Some producers that have started to work towards these aims include Ambhar Tequila, which uses an innovative rainwater irrigation system to produce low impact alcohol.
While Ambhar Tequila and other independent brands may be draws to the most discerning of Scotland’s tequila drinkers, the good news is that established global brands including Amber Beverages – who also own The Fabrica de Tequilas Finos brand – are also committed to sustainability.In 2019 Fabrica de Tequilas Finos was awarded Green certification by the Jalisco State Government for Environmental commitment (see the following feature).
Diageo too have committed to reducing water in the production of spirits by 2030. This means even market leaders like Johnnie Walker will be a sustainable choice for the consumer. They have also committed to improving positive drinking and diversity through its Society 2030: Spirit of Progress plan. One aspect of this plan is their adherence to ‘Water Stewardship’, meaning that they will replenish water used in the creation of spirits with drinkable water, assist in water retention in water-stressed areas, and work with local farmers and small-holders to use the resource efficiently.
Chivas Brothers is another globally recognised brand that has committed to making serious change. Their ‘Good Times from a Good Place’ strategy also has 2030 as a goal for reducing carbon by 50%. In the more immediate future, they intend to use 100% sustainably sourced packaging by 2022.
Packaging is a big hitter when it comes to potential for sustainability in spirits. Some brands are opting to eschew the traditional glass bottle in favour of more creative options. These include paper, polymer, and even recyclable eco-pouches.
The Sustainable Spirit Co. is the only company to offer a re-fill service of sprits in these pouches. By selling vodka, rum and gin in these 2.8-litre bags, they claim to reduce packaging by 95% and save on transported weight and volume, by 45% and 63% respectively.
The company states that by re-using one of their glass bottles, which is a one-time purchase, the eco-pouches save on 100% of the energy and carbon cost of producing new bottles. This might be a little disingenuous as it doesn’t take the production of its specialist eco-pouches into account, especially as they have plastic spouts.
Green Man Woodland Gin was the first spirit to be sold in a paper bottle. Silent Pool Distillers, the creators of the gin, say their product saves six times the carbon created by transportation of glass bottles as it weighs so much less. By including up to 94% recycled paper, the packaging is certainly an innovative solution.
The sustainability concerns regarding glass are more complex, as glass is one of very few highly recyclable materials. Virgin or new glass is a high-carbon endeavour, creating waste water and pouring emissions into the atmosphere. Additionally, glass takes one million years to biodegrade, as opposed to plastic, which takes around 400 (though leaches microplastics into the sea and the food chain).
The good news is that glass bottles can be recycled without end. The recycling process also uses 40% less energy to produce bottles. Recycled glass bottles are truly a sustainable packaging choice.
Another way to cut down on carbon cost is by sourcing locally produced spirits. The fewer miles a product needs to travel to get to your restaurant or bar, the more sustainable it is, on average. Scotland comes out very well in this instance as we have some of the most incredible, delicious, and innovative spirits on offer in the whole world. Some Scottish brands are leading the way in creating sustainable spirits.
Around a third of edible food is wasted every year globally, with the UK accounting for around 10 million tonnes of waste. Some forward-thinking spirits producers are utilising this food waste and repurposing it into delicious drinks. Discarded Spirits Co. are a good example of this practice, using discarded banana peel to flavour rum, cascara berries (the fruit that contains valuable coffee beans) in vermouth, and grape peel and seeds in vodka. Combined with spirits leftover from seasoning casks, or dealcoholizing wine, Discarded creates beauty from what would usually be thrown away.
Arbikie, near Arbroath, also has an unusual approach to the food products that go into its spirits. Dreamed up by three brothers, their family farm has been given over to growing crops specifically for their spirits, including potatoes for vodka and peas for gin. Food waste leftover at the end of the process is fed to cattle where possible.
Nc’nean, distilled on the beautiful Drimnin Estate on the Morvern Peninsula, is an incredible example of just what can be done with attention to detail. The whisky produced is completely organic, packaged in a 100% recycled clear glass bottle, made with 100% renewable energy, and is certified carbon neutral. Waste water is cooled in a natural pool and re-used time after time, so even the hefty water bill of spirit production is negated. The woman-owned company is fighting climate change at every step of the process — and the whisky is world-class.
While Nc’nean is a great example of the possibilities, many brands opt for an easy way out by pledging to offset their carbon emissions. Sadly, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth, and ProPublica say offsetting doesn’t work in practice.
Offsetting must be undertaken in addition to any work that was already scheduled, and this accounts for just 2% of trees planted worldwide. It simply isn’t a viable option for increasing sustainability — it’s something we should all be striving for, constantly, regardless, in this century’s climate emergency.
One thing that the industry might want to consider is just how much of this cycle the consumer is thinking about. As the world moves toward sustainable options, it stands to reason that more and more distillers will opt for these sustainable methods of saving water, cutting carbon emissions, and even using creative packaging. But, as far as the average customer is concerned, the high price point of sustainably-focussed independent spirits might be something that puts them off.
Adhering to the local connection may be one way to get ahead of the sustainability curve in a proactive and cost-effective way. One thing is for sure: sustainability is a buzzword that is here to stay.
Scottish rum start-up, Dark Matter Distillers, has announced that it will put nine of its inaugural casked-aged rum bottles up for auction in November.
The first virgin American oak cask was filled in August 2015 and now, after 6 years, the bottles have an undiluted strength of 66.3% ABV. They are being auctioned by Rum Auctioneer in an auction that starts on 5 November and ends on 15 November.
Jim Ewen, managing director of Dark Matter Distillers, said: “We’re incredibly excited to bring a truly unique offering to auction and take another step forward in our continual growth as a rum producer.
“Bottles 01-09, from Cask 001, from Scotland’s first rum distillery represent a wonderful opportunity for collectors, but also announce that we’re here for the long term; committed to the highest standards of rum distilling.
“With our ethos embedded in knowledge and science, it was only natural for this first-of-its-kind collection to celebrate the imagination and insights of some of the most influential scientific minds who have shaped our understanding of the universe.”
Joe Wilson, head of auction content at Rum Auctioneer, added: “The majority of rum that is featured on our platform originates from traditional rum-producing countries such as those in the Caribbean. It’s therefore a pleasure and unique opportunity for us to be able to put a spotlight on rum produced right here in Scotland.
“Having followed their story and unique production processes over the last six years, we are particularly excited to now offer Dark Matter Distiller’s inaugural cask aged rum at auction. Drawn from Scotland’s very first rum cask, The Physicist Series offers a true piece of rum history for any avid enthusiast or collector.”
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) has unveiled a limited edition blended Scotch Whisky ahead of COP26.
The whisky, which has a run of just 900 bottles, represents the Scotch Whisky industry’s commitment to sustainability from grain to glass, and will be presented to negotiators gathering in Glasgow in November.
The COP26 limited edition has been blended and bottled in the host city of Glasgow, and is comprised of whiskies produced at 26 distilleries across Scotland’s five Whisky regions.
The bottle is made from 97% recycled glass, with a fully recyclable stopper created from natural cork, recycled wood and recycled cork particles. The label paper contains 55% post-consumer recycled fibres, including leftover barley from the production process, and the carton is made from 100% recycled fibres.
The whisky has been created to showcase the Scotch Whisky industry’s sustainability commitments. Earlier this year the industry launched its new Sustainability Strategy, which commits the sector to reaching net zero emissions by 2040 as well as to other ambitious environmental targets.
The Strategy builds on progress already made across the Scotch Whisky industry over the last 10 years, including a 34% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, a 22% improvement in water efficiency, and a 75% reduction in waste to landfill.
The Scotch Whisky Association was also recently confirmed as an official Race to Zero partner by the United Nations COP26 Climate Champions team, a global campaign which commits non-government sectors to reducing the impact of climate change.
Karen Betts, Chief Executive of the Scotch Whisky Association said: “The Scotch Whisky industry is renowned for its collaboration, and it’s been great to see distillers come together to create this unique whisky for COP26.
“The creation of our COP26 limited edition Scotch Whisky only goes to illustrate how well our sector is working together to tackle the climate crisis and to reduce our environmental impact. Companies are deeply committed to this endeavour – which is critical to the industry’s future – and to sharing expertise and innovation as they do so.
“Based as we are across rural areas and in some of Scotland’s most beautiful landscapes, we know we have a real responsibility to the future of the communities within which we work, and to the landscapes from which we draw the wholly natural ingredients that Scotch Whisky is made from. That is why we are investing so much in environmental sustainability, and why we are determined to reach the point where the Scotch Whisky industry and our supply chain have a net positive impact on the environment around us.”
A COP26 Spokesperson said: “The path towards a more sustainable future will only be achieved through collaboration across societies and sectors. The efforts of the Scotch whisky industry, which is world-renowned, to reach net zero is a great example of the change we need to see.”
McQueen Gin based in Callander and founded in 2015 by Dale and Vicky McQueen says it has become the first in the UK to create a full augmented reality experience within each of its six core range bottles by launching the ‘World’s Coolest Labels’ which come to life to create an immersive gin experience for customers. The technology took six months to develop following a £20,000 investment by McQueen.
By scanning the label via the dedicated McQueen Gin app, customers will be able to view a full-length animation equivalent to a virtual dive into McQueen’s black cherry and vanilla gin pool, or learn about the spirit of Ben Ledi – the mountain which overlooks the distillery – behind its Highland Dry Gin, or follow the antics of the maverick lemon cartoon character and experience a crazy colour explosion.
Dale McQueen, MD of McQueen Gin, said, “At its core, one of the fascinating sociable aspects of society can be found when we share a drink with our friends, either in the pub or in our homes.
“With that option being limited in the current climate, we have enhanced this experience by creating an engaging AR experience on our six core range bottles that people will enjoy sharing across social media. We wanted to make not just an enjoyable tasting gin but an experience which would bond people together and give them something other than great taste to talk about.
“We have achieved this through the new McQueen Gin app, which allows the user to view the augmented reality experience by simply opening the app and pointing their camera at the front label.
“Not only are we the first Scottish Gin company to integrate augmented reality, we believe that we are the first gin company in the whole of the UK to fully integrate augmented reality into our label design with our own dedicated app, showcasing how McQueen continues to lead the industry in innovation.”
Licensees can now get their hands on the exclusive Tamdhu Edinburgh Airport European Sherry Oak Single Cask Whisky by traveling no further than the Tamdhu website.
Amid consumer demand following global travel disruptions, the Speyside distiller decided to ring fence the remaining bottles for online purchase, giving non-travellers an opportunity to sample the oldest single cask released by the Tamdhu Distillery to date.
Sandy McIntyre, Tamdhu Distillery Manager, said, “We’re proud now to bring the critically acclaimed liquid to a wider audience, allowing more Tamdhu fans the opportunity to taste this wonderful dram and appreciate the craft of the entire team here at the distillery.”
Rum sales rose 7.0% year-on-year in 2019 outpacing many other popular spirits in the UK on-trade according to CGA’s On-Premise Measurement Tool. The upward trend is being driven by the popularity of rum drunk in cocktails or with mixers, and by flavoured and spiced rums rather than dark, white or golden varieties.
This puts rum well ahead of other mainstream spirits including brandy (up 3.1%), whisky (up 0.9%) and vodka (down 0.4%).
CGA’s BrandTrack survey suggests just over five million consumers now drink rum out-of-home—a figure that has jumped 10.0% year-on-year.
Rum contributed to a spike in sales across the spirits category in 2019, with total value up by 6.2%, compared to a 0.6% drop for wine. Growth has been powered by gin, which has seen its on-trade sales more than triple in the last five years—but rum could now be positioned to follow its upward trajectory.
Said Phillip Montgomery, client director at CGA, “Sales have got a long way to go to match the stellar performance of gin, but its variety and versatility makes rum a major growth opportunity for operators and suppliers in 2020 and beyond.”
CGA’s research highlights the opportunity for premium rum brands in particular. Rum drinkers have an average of 4.6 brands in their repertoire—but since only 1.7 of these are premium brands, there is scope to increase consumers’ awareness of niche and craft rum varieties.
There are also opportunities to vary consumers’ attitudes to mixers. With four in five rum drinkers choosing to have it mixed with cola (51%) or diet cola (32%), there is relatively little awareness of the potential to drink it neat, or paired with juice, ginger ale or other alternatives.
CGA’s MATCH segmentation tool meanwhile shows that the spirit is starting to penetrate mainstream consumer groups as well as early adopters. BrandTrack meanwhile indicates that price influences two in five (40%) rum drinkers, making it the leading factor in choices ahead of the availability of a favourite brand (34%) and visibility on the bar (29%).
“Compared to some categories, rum consumers are fairly limited in the number of brands they use and the ways they drink it. If operators and suppliers can educate and inspire people about the potential of rum, we could well see more and more people trading up and experimenting,” said Phillip Montgomery.
“But with many operators expanding their cocktail and mixer selections, it’s becoming a very competitive arena, and brands are going to have stay right on top of their ranging, pricing and serving strategies to generate drinkers’ loyalty.”
Two Sheffield bar owners have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure their customers are some of the first in the world to sample one of the rarest and most expensive rums ever produced – The Havana Club 1519.
Adrian Bagnoli and Brad Charlesworth, owners of the city’s Cubana, did a 9,000 mile round trip to Havana to ensure they were the first bar outside of Cuba to purchase two bottles of the blend so old and rare that its original designers have now passed away. But at £250 a shot it definitely won’t suit every customers palate or pocket.
The Havana Club 1519, whose ageing process started in the early 1940s, has only just been launched in honour of the 500-year-old history of Havana and goes on sale at the renowned Sheffield bar this weekend.
Only 500 bottles exist in the world with only 250 of these available for sale. Collectors from around the globe are now queuing up to buy them at nearly £3,000 a bottle.
Adrian Bagnoli said, “The fact we were allowed to buy the very first two bottles to leave Cuba goes to show how far our status has grown in the rum world in recent years. It was an honour to be have been offered the opportunity to purchase this top quality rare rum at Havana Club HQ and, although not many people will be buying rum at such a hefty price tag it ensures we continue to develop our position as one of the country’s leading centres for rum.”
Spirits are in great shape in Scotland’s on-trade according to data from market research agency Kantar.
Malt Whisky is in growth in Scotland’s on-trade in both value growth (+3% vs +1% Total GB) and value share (5.7%) – which is over double that of Total GB in the on-trade. This is driven by extraordinary value (£) ROS (£4.5k malt sales per outlet per year) which is almost twice as much as Total GB.
Scotland demonstrates great success in the gin category too. In the on-trade, Mainstream Gin value growth (+93%) is well ahead of Total GB (+74%) driven by strong value (£) ROS of over £10k+ sales per year per outlet compared to £8k Total GB. There is also opportunity for Premium Gin, which is in strong double digit growth (+27%) but under-indexes in value share.
The only teeny-weeny fly in the ointment is Spiced Rum, while its value (£) ROS far outstrips that of Total GB (£7.3k vs £3.9k respectively), its value ROS is in decline in Scotland, and as a result, its value growth is slow (+1%) and behind total market (+14%).