Tobermory Gin to play a “very big part” in Distell Travel Retail growth strategy

Distell Global Travel Retail will work with selected partners for a global launch of Tobermory Gin in travel retail in January.

The 43.3% ABV gin from the famous whisky distillery on the Isle of Mull was unveiled to the travel retail industry at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes. The gin will play “a very big part in our growth strategy going forward,” Distell Global Travel Retail Managing Director Luke Maga said.

Maga added: “This is an exciting project for us. There is a boom around gin at the moment and we believe what has been created here is something extremely special.”

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There will be a special campaign, encompassing advertising PR, social media and sampling to complement the launch.

The gin contains 13 botanicals and a dash of Tobermory Whisky, with some of the botanicals being grown on Mull itself. Distell Global Travel Retail Head of Marketing Rachel Hawes explained: “We eventually want to source all the botanicals from the island and we currently source three: the tea, wild heather and elderflower. Simon from the distillery is now developing his own crops, which will over time mature.”

“Tobermory Gin really is something different for the gin market, with an interesting story to tell as well as a high quality and unique spirit.” – Tobermory Distillery Manager Stephen Woodcock

The result is a gin with fruity and floral notes and a slightly malty taste balanced with citrus and coriander.

Hawes (left) and Maga (right) introduce the gin at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes

Tobermory Distillery Manager Stephen Woodcock commented: “Tobermory Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, producing one of the oldest single malts. We’ve got a track record of producing different spirit types, though we’d never tried to make gin, until now.

“Using a splash of spirit from our famous whisky stills, along with a mix of botanicals, some hand foraged on the island, Tobermory Gin really is something different for the gin market, with an interesting story to tell as well as a high quality and unique spirit.”

Maga added: “The team at Tobermory Distillery are highly skilled and the prospect of taking on a fresh challenge, to create a new type of spirit, was one they embraced with creativity and island inspiration. The addition of Tobermory Gin has given us the opportunity to strengthen not only the distillery portfolio but Distell’s offer as well – marking the company’s first foray into the gin category. We’re confident Tobermory Gin will prove popular with global travellers, giving them a little taste of magical Mull.”

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