Tobermory Gin goes into GTR channel

Distell's Tobermory Distillery, based on the Isle of Mull, has announced that its recently revealed gin will also be launched into the global travel retail channel. The news came out of the TFWA World Exhibition in Cannes.

Tobermory Gin (43.3% ABV) has been created using inspiration from the Isle of Mull, the second-largest of the Inner Hebrides, located off the west coast of Scotland. 

A splash of spirit from the Tobermory whisky stills is added to the base spirit. Similarly a pinch of Hebridean tea, grown by a local on Mull, ensures a local provenance.

Tobermory Gin’s flavour profile comprises 13 botanicals, including juniper, elderflower and orange peel. All are picked in season to enhance the flavour profile and are steeped for at 24 hours in the base spirit.

A special campaign, encompassing advertising, PR, social and sampling, will support the launch. Called ‘expressive by nature’, the name is inspired by the island and the creative process.

Stephen Woodcock, distillery manager at Tobermory Distillery, says: “Tobermory Distillery is one of the oldest distilleries in Scotland, producing one of the oldest single malts. We’ve got a track record of producing different spirit types, though we’d never tried to make gin, until now. 

“Tobermory is the first established single malt distillery to use their name on a gin. Using a splash of spirit from our famous whisky stills, along with a mix of botanicals, some hand foraged on the island, Tobermory Gin really is something different for the gin market, with an interesting story to tell as well as a high quality and unique spirit.”

Luke Maga, Distell global travel retail managing director, says: “The team at Tobermory Distillery are highly skilled and the prospect of taking on a fresh challenge, to create a new type of spirit, was one they embraced with creativity and island inspiration. The addition of Tobermory Gin has given us the opportunity to strengthen not only the distillery portfolio but Distell’s offer as well – marking the company’s first foray into the gin category. We’re confident Tobermory Gin will prove popular with global travellers, giving them a little taste of magical Mull.”

3 October 2019 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, editor