Bacardi Global Travel Retail and Virgin Atlantic have teamed up for a five-week pop-up at the airline’s Heathrow Clubhouse, which features five of the world’s leading bars.
Exclusive travel-inspired cocktails based on a number of Bacardi’s premium spirits have been served at the ‘Five Up’ event. These include Grey Goose vodka, Bombay Sapphire gin, Bacardi Carta Blanca rum and Dewar’s blended Scotch whisky.
Four cocktails have been created in collaboration with the renowned Dandelyan bar at Mondrian London to be served exclusively by Virgin Atlantic. The cocktails are inspired by travel and botany and were created by bartender ‘Mr Lyan’, real name Ryan Chetiyawardana, and the Dandelyan team.
Mr Lyan took up a week’s residency at the airline’s Clubhouse in mid-August to showcase the cocktails. Bars from New York (Employees Only), Hong Kong (Quinary), San Francisco (Bourbon & Branch) and Los Angeles (Hinoki & The Bird) have also participated in the event with one-week residencies. Five Up concludes on 4 September.
During their residencies, each bar delivered its own cocktail menu, featuring brands from the Bacardi portfolio, served by its own bartenders. The mezzanine area of Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse has been transformed each week to showcase each bar’s home city and culture.
“The ‘Five Up’ season is particularly special as it seamlessly links travel retail with some of our leading bar partners in key cities and highlights the relevance of enjoying our brands wherever you are in the world,” said Bacardi Global Travel Retail Regional Director Europe and MEA Aude Bourdier-Rocourt.
“Airlines are an important sector for Bacardi Global Travel Retail thanks to the opportunity they bring for more in-depth engagement with our consumers throughout their journey. We plan to deliver more of this kind of activity across the globe.”
Virgin Atlantic EVP Customer Jill Brady commented: “Everything we do at Virgin Atlantic is about making the flying experience more special, and it is great to collaborate with Bacardi and with bars who share our passion for providing an unrivalled service. Our customers are adventurous and like to try new things so we have handpicked venues that showcase the very best of our key destinations.”
