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Plymouth gin bar opens in Heathrow’s T5

Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Europe has unveiled its biggest travel retail activation to date in Heathrow Terminal 5, for gin brand Plymouth. Following the strong performance of the premium gin category in European Travel Retail, Plymouth gin has secured a new listing with World Duty Free Group and, in celebration, the brand will take centre stage at London Heathrow’s Terminal 5 this month (March 2014) with a beautifully crafted bar.

Plymouth gin is recognised across the globe for its rich heritage and artisanal production methods, continuing to be batch-made according to its original 1793 recipe at the historic Black Friars Distillery in the city of Plymouth. It is still produced in the original copper pot still that was installed at the distillery during the Victorian era in 1855, which is closely reflected in the personalised bar at Heathrow Terminal 5, designed to mirror this unique feature.

The bar also features portholes containing Plymouth’s seven essential botanicals – juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, orris root, angelica root, cardamom pods and coriander seeds –linking to the naval heritage intrinsically woven into the history of Plymouth gin while inviting visitors to truly immerse themselves in the experience.

Its unique and balanced recipe has earned Plymouth gin the reputation as the ideal gin for cocktails, preferred by bartenders all over the world. Consequently, the bar’s interactive element also welcomes travellers to attend a drop-in cocktail masterclass, where they will be given the chance to create one of three unique Plymouth gin cocktails – the Hedgerow Slider, Marguerite or Gimlet.

To further increase product visibility, the Plymouth bottle will also be displayed on wood and copper gondolas, as well as on a copper wall-bay display. Day ten of the activation also saw a personal appearance by Plymouth gin’s master distiller Sean Harrison, welcoming travellers to the bar (pictured below).

JC Iglesias, global brand director for Plymouth gin, says: “It is fantastic to see Plymouth’s unique heritage being brought to life in such a visually impactful way at Heathrow Terminal 5. Plymouth is a really special gin with an unrivalled history and an incomparable taste, so we’re excited to have the chance to highlight what it has to offer to customers passing through the airport.”

Jenny Shipton, marketing director at Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Europe, comments: ‘The premium gin category has seen significant growth in Travel Retail, presenting a huge opportunity for innovation. In recent years we’ve been reinforcing Plymouth’s position as a super-premium gin with a strong heritage, and we are very excited to be introducing our biggest activation to date in World Duty Free Heathrow Terminal 5. We are confident the dedicated Plymouth gin bar will maximise brand exposure and inspire gin drinkers looking for an historic expression with a complex flavour profile and smooth texture.’

David de Miguel, global head of liquor at World Duty Free Group adds: “We are excited to be partnering with Pernod Ricard Travel Retail Europe on this immersive bar installation at Heathrow. The interactive elements are highly engaging and help to reinforce our position as a leading retailer with consistently innovative approaches to showcasing our expertise. This premium space will undeniably delight our customers, allowing them to enjoy Plymouth gin in a new and exciting way, making for a unique and memorable shopping experience.”