Tito’s sets sail with Virgin Voyages

American brand Tito’s Handmade Vodka has secured a new travel retail listing onboard Virgin Voyages’ cruise ships.

All Virgin Cruise Line Rockstar Suites will offer 375ml bottles of Tito’s Handmade Vodka.

John McDonnell, managing director international, said: “Global travel retail is important for us because we are committed to our consumers.

“Our consumers want to drink Tito’s everywhere they go in the world. They don’t love Tito’s, they are in love with Tito’s.

“We don’t want to take a chance that it’s not available. If you’re not in travel retail, you’re not going to be a global brand. We are a global brand now.”

Made in Austin, Texas, the vodka is also available on multiple airlines, including American Airlines, Aer Lingus and Estonian Air.

McDonnell also noted that Beirut duty free, “and Lebanon itself”, was an important travel retail market for the brand.

The vodka brand has named a number of new distributors this year. In March, it appointed Velier as its new distributor in Italy.

The move followed the appointment of two distributors in Switzerland and Cyprus the month prior.

Tito’s became the best-selling spirit brand in the US in 2019, knocking Smirnoff off the top spot for the first time in more than a decade.