Douglas Laing & Co has unveiled the new Remarkable Regional Malts collection, exclusively for GTR.

The range is an extension to the domestic Remarkable Regional Malts offering, comprising The Epicurean Lowland Malt, Timorous Beastie Highland Malt, Scallywag Speyside Malt, Rock Island Islands Malt and Big Peat Islay Malt. It is expected to retail at £50/$65

According to the company, which is now in its 73rd year, the range is collectively driven to deliver ‘the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions.’

The Remarkable Regional Malts Global Travellers Editions are each bottled at 48% alcohol strength and packaged in one litre bottles with gift tubs. The range is presented in line with the Douglas Laing family philosophy to bottle Scotch Whisky “as the Distiller intended”, without chill-filtration or artificial colouring.

Chris Leggat, CEO, Douglas Laing & Co said: “As domestic success with the Remarkable Regional Malts continues to thrive, our foray into travel retail is part of the global plan to invest and grow the brands as part of the overall Douglas Laing Malt strategy.

“Douglas Laing & Co is committed to a crusade of education, enlightening consumers on the brilliance of blended and regional malts and the truth behind its complex, superior and genuinely multi-faceted spirit. Reaching a vast new audience in the travel retail space will contribute exponentially to this programme of growth.”

‘MORE PREMIUM AND EYE-CATCHING’

Cara Laing, Director of Whisky added: “The Remarkable Malts travel retail range is designed to be an evolution of the domestic products, with the spirit inside a higher strength variation of the classic recipes. The packaging remains true to our original designs, whilst the introduction of textured foils and varnishes render the now recognisable bottles more premium and eye-catching for the often time-poor traveller.

“Key selling points are clearly called out on the packaging, with abridged tasting notes placed prominently on the front of our gift-tubes to allow speedy understanding of our flavour profiles. Supported by our plans to educate consumers via social media and PR activation on the scotch whisky regions and blended malt as a category, our Remarkable Regional Malts Global Travellers editions genuinely offer something new and exciting for the duty-free retail space.”

Appointed by Douglas Laing to drive the firm’s travel retail growth, Hannes Koch, who has held GTR leadership positions at Gebr. Heinemann and Nivea and as Managing Director for the Travel Retail Cooperation in his current role, says he is thrilled to be associated with an ‘iconic whisky company’ such as Douglas Laing.

Koch who believes the company has been pivotal to the development of category commented: “Remarkable Regional Malts’ Travel Retail exclusive range is a great fit to the channel which will stand out quality and design wise. Our travel retail exclusive range will help operators recruit new consumers and whisky enthusiasts by offering the ultimate distillation of Scotland’s malt whisky regions!”

Douglas Laing & Co is hoping to exhibit the complete Remarkable Regional Malts Global Travellers Editions range at the upcoming Tax Free World Association Singapore Exhibition (14-20 May). At this stage, TRBusiness understands the event is going ahead as planned, despite the ongoing coronavirus situation.