Molson Coors to distribute Tarquin's Gin range

The Cornish producer of Tarquin's Gin has secured a listing with international beverage company Molson Coors.

Southwestern Distillery has signed a deal to add the Tarquin's Gin range and its Twin Fin Rum to the Molson Coors portfolio.

As part of the deal, Molson Coors will focus on building Tarquin's Gin and Twin Fin Rum in the grocery and national on-trade markets, while the distillery will continue to supply independent and online retailers, along with local customers in Cornwall and Devon.

The two brands collaborated previously on a limited-edition gin, produced with the Molson Coors-owned Sharp's Brewery in Cornwall.

Southwestern Distillery was founded by self-taught distiller Tarquin Leadbetter. In 2019, it was named as the UK's 29th fastest-growing company in The Sunday Times' FastTrack 100. Its Twin Fin Rum was launched in 2020 and contributed to year-on-year sales growth of more than 40 per cent in the year to March 2021.

Leadbetter said: "I've spent almost a decade building Tarquin's Gin; from distilling on my cooker at home in 2012, to selling the first batch out of the boot of my car in 2013, we've grown to a team of 50 staff to become one of the largest independent family distilleries in the UK in 2021.

"This new distribution will enable us to roll out further into UK retail and expand export beyond our existing 25 international markets."

Jack Daniel, beverages director at Molson Coors Beverage Company in Western Europe, said: "We're so excited by this partnership with Southwestern Distillery. The world-class gin awards talk to the incredible quality of these super-premium craft gins and it's great to be working with Tarquin and the team in a much bigger way following the collaboration with Sharp's.

"We're looking foward to bringing our activation expertise and established distribution networks to take these great products to the next level, while also allowing us to bring something new and different to customers to help them tap into a wider range of great-quality drinks for every occasion."

14 April 2021 - Bethany Whymark