The Lakes Distillery increases travel retail footprint through World Duty Free partnership

The Lakes Distillery has set its sights on a “year of exceptional growth” through the launch of its first single malt whisky and a wider distribution agreement with Dufry-owned World Duty Free.

The Cumbria-based distillery has secured listings in World Duty Free shops in airports across the UK, including Heathrow and Gatwick.

The Lakes Distillery CEO Nigel Mills is looking forward to a year of “exceptional growth”

This expansion of its airport distribution network, including its first in Scotland (Glasgow and Edinburgh airports), follows the success of The Lakes Gin in Newcastle and Manchester airports, where it is rated as one of the top-selling premium gins.

The Lakes Gin, The ONE, The Lakes Gin Explorer, Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka Liqueur and Lakes Rhubarb and Rosehip Gin Liqueur will be featured at airports in Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Leeds, East Midlands and Humberside.

The Caramel Vodka and Rhubarb and Rosehip liqueurs will be listed in 26 World Duty Free stores at Heathrow, Gatwick, Edinburgh and Glasgow airports.

The Lakes Distillery was quick to introduce duty free-exclusive products

The Lakes Distillery Chief Executive Officer Nigel Mills said: “As a distillery still in its infancy, this success is testament to the quality of our products, and the loyal following that we have already developed. To be the top-selling premium gin in Manchester, which has a number of its own gin producers in the region, proves that.

“We are already seeing interest for exports from across the world, but these products, sold in duty free outlets across the UK, will become brand advocates themselves, as they distribute across the world in people’s luggage.

“This news, as well as our planned whisky launches in 2018, means we are looking at a year of exceptional growth for the company.”

The Lakes Distillery was opened in 2015 and unveiled its first duty free-exclusive product range a year later. It plans to release its first single malt whisky this year.

The Lakes Distillery’s Christmas baubles, released in November, resulted in shipments to Arizona, Hollywood, Minneapolis, Chicago, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas in the USA. The distillery also noted increased interest from the Ukraine, Germany, The Netherlands and Russia.

The Lakes Distillery is recognised as one of eight distilleries to “see before you die'”

The distillery is being listed as a global tourism destination. It was named as one of eight distilleries to “see before you die” in the World by World Whisky Day, and claimed the Best Distillery Facilities in the World title for the third year running at Spirits Business Magazine’s Global Distillery Awards 2018.

The Distillery, on the banks of the River Derwent, was the only UK distillery, and the only attraction in Cumbria, to be awarded the Gold Accolade by VisitEngland. It is rated a Top Ten Lake District tourist attraction, with its whisky experience tours, gift shop and bistro receiving over 100,000 visitors a year.

 

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