Smokehead and Tamdhu increase TR offering

Ian Macleod Distillers has upped its travel retail offering with the launch of two channel-exclusive expressions: Smokehead Rum Riot and Tamdhu Single Cask.

Smokehead Rum Riot

Smokehead Rum Riot has been made with Islay single malt that has been finished in Caribbean rum casks, providing flavours of “immense smoke and spice, followed by citrus, banana, pear drops and hints of honey”.

Following its preview at the TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference in May, the bottling will officially launch at the TWFA World Exhibition & Conference in October.

“Smokehead Single Malt is growing at 50% year-on-year internationally and we see considerable additional potential for the brand in the GTR channel,” said Ian Macleod Distillers’ travel retail director William Ovens.

“Smokehead has captured the attention of consumers with its bold and distinctive packaging, unique flavour profile and ‘not for everyone’ proposition.”

Smokehead Rum Riot is bottled at 43% abv and carries an RRP of £44.90 (US$55.00).

Tamdhu Single Cask

Tamdhu Single Cask has been aged in a first-fill American oak oloroso Sherry cask. The whisky was distilled in 2003 and bottled in June this year.

The 15-year-old whisky was hand-selected by members of travel retailer Dufry’s team from a shortlist of five casks, and will be exclusively available in all World Duty Free stores across Heathrow and in World of Whisky stores in Heathrow’s Terminal 4 and Terminal 5.

Tamdhu Single Cask is bottled at a cask strength of 57.1% abv and will retail at £249 (US$300). It is limited to only 595 bottles and follows the launch of a previous World Duty Free Tamdhu exclusive in Edinburgh airport.

“The Heathrow American oak single cask creates an exciting contrast to the Edinburgh European oak single cask, which will appeal to whisky aficionados in travel retail,” said Matthew Scott-Fairweather, Dufry liquor category manager.