Member Article

The Lakes Distillery is flying high extending its distribution in airports across the UK

The Lakes Distillery, one of the leading spirit producers in England, has confirmed new products and a wider distribution in World Duty Free, A DUFRY company; a move that will increase its global footprint and set it up for a year of exceptional growth.

The Gosforth-based business, with its distillery on the banks of the River Derwent in Cumbria, has secured placement of its products in World Duty Free shops in international airports across the UK, including Heathrow and Gatwick.

This expansion of its airport distribution network, including its first in Scotland, follows the success of The Lakes Gin in Newcastle and Manchester airport, 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,
• Glasgow Airport.

Nigel Mills, Chief Executive Officer of The Lakes Distillery, 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.

The Lakes Distillery has already produced 600,000 bottles of whisky worth £30million at retail. Its products have won numerous 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 United States, including: Arizona, Hollywood, Minneapolis, Chicago, Florida, Illinois, New York and Texas. Interest has also grown from the Ukraine, Germany, Netherlands and Russia.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Mike Renton .