Bacardi Global Travel Retail and Virgin Atlantic have just completed a special five week summer pop-up promotion offering ‘exclusive travel inspired cocktails’ at the airline’s Heathrow Airport Clubhouse throughout August and the first week of September.

 

The cocktails not surprisingly featured premium spirit bases from Bacardi, including GREY GOOSE vodka, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin, BACARDÍ Carta Blanca rum and DEWAR’S blended Scotch whisky.

 

The entire promotion was run in ‘close collaboration’ with the well known Dandelyan bar at Mondrian London on the South Bank and the four cocktails were based on creations by award-winning bartender ‘Mr Lyan’ (Ryan Chetiyawardana) and the Dandelyan team exclusively for serving by Virgin Atlantic.

 

All the drinks were also inspired by travel and botany, with Mr Lyan having now completed a week’s residency at the airline’s Clubhouse to show off the Dandelyan cocktails to travellers from around the world. Other ‘cutting edge bars’ from New York, Hong Kong, San Francisco and Los Angeles also took up week-long residencies at the airline’s London Heathrow Clubhouse between 1-4 September.

 

 

 

Bacardi describes the five-week campaign as ‘the first of its kind in an airport lounge’ with each bar cocktail menu featuring brands from the Bacardi portfolio, served by its own bartenders. The mezzanine area of Virgin Atlantic’s Clubhouse was also transformed week by week to highlight each bar’s home city and culture.

 

‘FANTASTIC RELATIONSHIP…’

Commenting on the initiative, Aude Bourdier-Rocourt, Regional Director Europe and MEA, Bacardi Travel Retail said the company enjoys ‘a fantastic relationship with Virgin Atlantic’. She added: “The ‘Five Up’ season is particularly special as it seamlessly links travel retail with some of our leading bar partners in key cities and highlights the relevance of enjoying our brands wherever you are in the world.

 

“Airlines are an important sector for Bacardi Global Travel Retail thanks to the opportunity they bring for more in-depth engagement with our consumers throughout their journey. We plan to deliver more of this kind of activity across the globe.”

 

Jill Brady, EVP Customer for Virgin Atlantic commented: “We are always looking for ways to surprise our customers and being able to collaborate with Dandelyan and Bacardi on this project has been very exciting.”