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Sky Connection promoters welcome the Crystal Stag Gondola to Hong Kong International Airport |
HONG KONG/UAE. Leading malt whisky Glenfiddich continued the roll-out of its striking Crystal Stag gondola this week, as the fixture made its Asian debut at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) with liquor & tobacco operator Sky Connection. The Crystal Stag has previously been unveiled at London Heathrow T5, Frankfurt Terminal 1B, New York JFK and Dubai International Airport T3, where brand-owner William Grant & Sons was on hand to help retailer Dubai Duty Free celebrate its 28th anniversary yesterday (December 20).
The Crystal Stag’s unveiling in HKIA with Sky Connection coincided with the launch of a limited-edition Glenfiddich 1974 at the airport. Only around 200 bottles of the high-value malt are available, and it carries a retail price of HKD8,800 (US$1,130) with Sky Connection, its exclusive home for an initial launch period.
Senior representatives from Sky Connection and brand-owner William Grant & Sons were present for the official Crystal Stag launch on Monday December 19, with The Moodie Report also on hand. The gondola is located in Sky Connection’s Store 3, in the heart of the store’s malt whisky offer, and is designed to complement and enhance the impact of Glenfiddich’s new wall bay fixture.
Sky Connection CEO Baker Salleh said: “Sky Connection is proud to be selected as the first airport retailer in Asia to feature the Glenfiddich Crystal Stag Gondola and the first in the world to launch the Limited Edition Glenfiddich 1974. The unveiling of this incredibly beautiful piece of retail artform and the exclusive product launch marks another milestone in our ongoing efforts to bring the best and finest offers to our customers at HKIA.”
Wm Grant & Sons Regional Marketing Manager Kate Minner added: “We’re absolutely delighted to be unveiling the latest Crystal Stag Gondola here in Hong Kong. We have an excellent relationship with Sky Connection and working with them as our strategic partner for the first Glenfiddich Stag in Asia was an easy choice.”
Wm Grant Regional Manager Asia Pacific Kelvin Ng said: “The decision to place the Glenfiddich Crystal Stag Gondola at HKIA was also influenced by the passenger profile, which is deemed very appropriate for the brand.”
Talking to The Moodie Report, Salleh said that he had “fallen in love” with the Crystal Stag concept on seeing it at the Tax Free World Exhibition in Cannes. “Seeing it here today, it has met all the expectations that I had for it, and it is a unique opportunity for us as an airport operator to present such an artform to passengers. The way that Glenfiddich has managed to combine the imagery with practicality is absolutely superb. The people at William Grant have understood the need to combine the attractiveness of the fixture with the need to service customers in a high-traffic area.”
Salleh said that malt whiskies was a growing sector for Sky Connection, as the retailer’s core customers continue to seek more premium goods. “Our main customers – Hong Kong and mainland Chinese – are very attuned to age statements, and any time we can get hold of vintage products, they usually sell very well. Our problem is meeting consumer demand for super-premium goods, whether it’s single malts, blended Scotches or Cognacs. Keeping on top of that demand is a huge challenge.”
Click on The Moodie Podcast icons to hear more from Baker Salleh, including his views on the current tenders in HKIA.
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L to R: Sky Connection General Manager Airport and Ferry Terminals Duty Free Shops Bernie Souza, Sky Connection CEO Baker Salleh, Wm Grant & Sons Regional Marketing Manager Kate Minner, Sky Connection Merchandising & Buying Director Simon Au, The Moodie Report Executive Director John Rimmer and Wm Grant & Sons Regional Manager Asia Pacific Kelvin Ng celebrate the Crystal Stag’s arrival at HKIA |
The Moodie View offers a look at the Crystal Stag Gondola in Sky Connection’s Store 3 |
A new Glenfiddich exclusive in Dubai
The day after the Crystal Stag’s launch in HKIA saw the official launch of a new Glenfiddich variant exclusive to Dubai Duty Free, helping the retailer mark its 28th anniversary. William Grant & Sons Global Travel Retail Managing Director Rita Greenwood was in attendance for the launch, along with Kate Minner and Glenfiddich Global Brand Ambassador Ian Millar. They were joined by Dubai Duty Free (DDF) Executive Vice Chairman Colm McLoughlin and President George Horan to celebrate the arrival of the Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition, a 15yo variant matured in sherry casks and priced at Dhs190 (US$52). Over 70 bottles of the new exclusive were sold in a single day earlier this week.
Talking to The Moodie Report in Dubai, Greenwood said that Wm Grant had enjoyed “a really strong year in travel retail”. “We’ve had fantastic performances from Glenfiddich and Hendrick’s Gin especially, and growth at the top-end – 30yo and above – has been particularly strong. Our challenge has been to keep up with demand for aged items, in Asia and the Middle East particularly.
“This was a critical year for Glenfiddich and we’ve rolled out a number of new products that have had a wonderful response, among them [travel retail exclusive] Age of Discovery. The launch of the Crystal Stag Gondola has been very satisfying and shows where we want to take the brand.”
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Glenfiddich enjoys a prominent pillar position in Dubai Duty Free’s liquor store in T3 during the festive period |
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The Glenfiddich Malt Master’s Edition, a new 15yo variant exclusive to Dubai Duty Free |
Millar explained that product innovation was central to Glenfiddich’s ambitions to grow its own sales and to introduce more consumers to the single malt sector. “Our 12, 15 and 18yo statements account for about 90% of our global sales, and that’s where our loyal support is,” he explained. “But to draw new people in, we’re constantly coming up with new variants. The Age of Discovery 19yo Madeira finish [launched at the end of 2010] is an example of that, and we will be launching a new Age of Discovery version, matured in Bourbon casks, in early 2012. You’ll see at least two new innovations from Glenfiddich every year, and that helps ensure there’s something for everyone within the range.”
Millar cited growing demand for malt whiskies in Asia – along with the fact that the sector accounts for only 9% of global whisky sales – as evidence of the vast potential for single malt sales, especially in bringing new consumers to the category. “I feel that a young blend can be a big ‘hit’ to the palate, whereas a single malt is a nice, ‘safe’ avenue for new consumers to try whisky,” he argued. “Glenfiddich provides that and more. The likes of [leading blended Scotches] Johnnie Walker and Chivas deserve our thanks and those of all single malts for the work they’ve done in opening new markets, and we’re now seeing malts take off. Taiwan, for example, now accounts for 9% of all sales of Glenfiddich, which is amazing for a country of only 24 million people.”
Click on The Moodie Podcast for more from Ian Millar.
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