Distillery toasting prospect of worldwide recognition
A Cumbria distillery is toasting the prospect of “exceptional” growth after securing a distribution deal at some of the UK’s biggest airports.
The Lakes Distillery will offer its existing range, and new products, across World Duty Free, A DUFRY company, in a move that will increase its global footprint and set it up for a year of growth.
World Duty Free shops in an impressive array of international airports, including Heathrow and Gatwick, will feature the company’s popular drinks range.
This expansion of its airport distribution network, including its first in Scotland, follows the success of The Lakes Gin in Newcastle and Manchester airports, where it is 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 in: Manchester Airport T1, T2 and T3; Liverpool John Lennon Airport; Newcastle Airport; Leeds Bradford Airport; East Midlands Airport and Humberside Airport.
The Lakes Salted Caramel Vodka liqueur and Rhubarb and Rosehip Gin Liqueur will be listed in 26 World Duty Free stores and the following airports: Heathrow Airport; Gatwick Airport; Edinburgh Airport; and Glasgow Airport.
The Lakes Distillery chief executive 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 hand 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 three-year-old distillery, which will see the release of its first single malt whiskies this year, is already being featured on international lists as a global tourism destination, including being named one of ‘eight distilleries to see before you die’ in the World by World Whisky Day and being named ‘best distillery facilities in the world’ 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 distillery in the UK, and only attraction in Cumbria to be awarded the prestigious Gold Accolade by VisitEngland and is already a Top Ten Lake District tourist attraction, with its whisky experience tours, gift shop and bistro receiving in excess of 100,000 visitors a year.
So far the distillery has already produced 600,000 bottles of whisky worth £30m at retail.
Its products have won prestigious awards for its gin and vodka brands, as well as its unique blended whisky, all on sale in high street outlets in the UK and in major export markets, including the Far East and Australia.
A surge in demand for the distillery’s luxury Christmas baubles, released in November, resulted in shipments to the United States. Interest has also grown from the Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands and Russia.
The Lakes Distillery employs 85 people.
