UK. Halewood Artisanal Spirits will introduce Dead Man’s Fingers ready-to-drink (RTD) products to the global travel retail market at TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes, as the spirits company targets growth through convenient, flavour-led formats.
The launch will form part of a wider showcase of the Halewood portfolio, with Whitley Neill London Dry Gin and Scotch whisky from The Bonnington Distillery also taking centre stage.
The Dead Man’s Fingers RTD line-up comprises Spiced Rum & Cola, Golden Spiced Rum & Light Cola and Cherry Rum & Cola. Each is presented in a 250ml format at 7.3% ABV.
Halewood said it sees the range as an opportunity to extend Dead Man’s Fingers’ spiced and flavoured rum credentials into new consumption occasions while broadening the brand’s appeal among younger adult consumers.
Halewood Head of Global Travel Retail Eamon Prunty said, “RTDs continue to gain momentum in travel retail as consumers increasingly look for convenient formats that fit naturally with modern travel occasions.
“Their portability, ease of consumption and broad flavour appeal make them particularly relevant to airports and other travel environments, while allowing established spirits brands to recruit consumers into new occasions.
“For Halewood, the Dead Man’s Fingers launch builds on the brand’s strong flavour credentials while giving it another way to engage a younger adult consumer.
“At 7.3% ABV, these are RTDs that deliver genuine flavour and impact, giving consumers the convenience of a ready-to-drink serve without compromising on the character or strength they expect from a spirits-based proposition.”
Whitley Neill London Dry Gin will be another key focus in Cannes, with Halewood identifying the expression as a significant development opportunity in global travel retail.
Whitley Neill’s flavoured gin expressions will continue to support consumer discovery and recruitment, complementing the London Dry offer.
The company will also showcase Scotch whisky from The Bonnington Distillery in Cannes, including Johnny Cree Single Malt.
The Edinburgh distillery traces its story to 2017, when the project began on Graham Street in Leith, close to the original site associated with historic Scotch whisky name John Crabbie’s.
Commissioned in December 2019 and beginning production in March 2020, Bonnington was the first single malt distillery to open in Leith for nearly a century.
Halewood Artisanal Spirits will meet customers and partners throughout TFWA World Exhibition onboard the Accama Delta yacht, which will serve as the company’s base for meetings, tastings and portfolio presentations during the Cannes event. ✈
