Ian Macleod Distillers will launch the travel retail exclusive Smokehead Rum Riot at the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes in October.
The new whisky will be available in 70cl bottles at an RRP of £44.90 (US$55.18) and has been crafted by finishing Smokehead Islay whisky in Caribbean rum casks. The result is an initial hit of smoke and spice followed by citrus, banana, pear and honey flavours, the distiller said. The whisky will be in a black bottle featuring splashes of orange, while each travel retail exclusive bottle is packaged in a vibrant orange metallic tin.
The concept was previewed at May’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore and will have its initial bottling in September ahead of the launch at Ian Macleod’s stand in Cannes.
Explaining the introduction of the new whisky as a travel retail exclusive, Ian Macleod Distillers Travel Retail Director William Ovens said: “Smokehead Single Malt is growing at 50% year on year internationally and we see considerable additional potential for the brand in the global travel retail channel.”
The introduction further reinforces Ian Macleod’s commitment to the travel retail channel after the distiller ran its largest ever airport activation for its Tamdhu and Glengoyne single malt whiskies at Edinburgh Airport in June.
