Next week, the South of France will be bustling with visitors from around the globe attending the annual TFWA World Exhibition and Conference in Cannes. We highlight some of the brands to look out for.

On the morning of 3 October, the grand auditorium of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, France, will once again be packed with delegates from around the world, eager to hear the opening address from TFWA president Erik Juul‐Mortensen. The TFWA World Exhibition and Conference is a staple in the global travel retail (GTR) calendar – and this year’s show organisers promise to present a stellar line‐up.

Juul‐Mortensen will be joined on stage by speakers including David McWilliams, adjunct professor of global economics at Trinity College Dublin’s School of Business, and Raymond Cloosterman, founder and CEO of Rituals. The conference will also deep dive into life in the metaverse with help from digital technologies expert Swan Sit, operating partner of AF Ventures, and former global head of digital marketing for Nike, Revlon and Estée Lauder.

Once the opening conference is wrapped up, the exhibition doors will be open to visitors to explore the vast assortment of stands showcasing the finest spirits in the GTR sphere.

Juul‐Mortensen said: “The total square metres of floor space reserved by exhibitors is already much greater than that of last year’s edition. Moreover, many of our exhibitors are planning to expand their space with larger stands, proving that confidence in the industry is returning. With the very positive response we have had, we are confident that, while the scale of this year’s event won’t quite be on par with pre‐Covid levels, we are not far away.”

The 2022 event will also see the return of TFWA’s workshops, with two sessions due to take place during lunchtime on Tuesday 4 October (The Airport Forum) and Wednesday 5 October (Innovation in Action).

The sessions will be held in the I5 studio inside the Palais des Festivals, and will offer opportunities for guests to learn about how the passenger experience has evolved, and the future of the airport commercial business. “More than 30% of the companies already confirmed to be exhibiting at the event are from the wine and spirits category, with both major brands as well as smaller companies being represented,” Juul‐ Mortensen added.

“The TFWA Lounge, which will be open to visitors for two separate sessions each day, will give those within this category an excellent opportunity to showcase their products.

“TFWA World Exhibition and Conference is the perfect opportunity for industry friends and colleagues to meet face to face, and experience the latest product initiatives first hand. It is the ideal environment for spirits and wine brands to express themselves. It’s about business, but it is also about conviviality. That’s what makes the event the perfect meeting place for the spirits industry.”

Continue reading to see some of the spirits producers exhibiting at this year’s show.

Distell

Stand: Mr Sea, Harbour Village

If you’re in search of something new, South African drinks firm Distell has you covered. The company is known for its award‐winning liqueur brand Amarula. The liqueur is distilled from the fermented fruit of the marula tree, before being aged for three years, and blended with cream.

Now, the liqueur has been given a ‘velvety milk chocolate’ twist – meet Amarula Chocolate. Amarula Chocolate complements the original flavour of marula fruit with ‘full‐bodied, fragrant chocolate undertones of cocoa powder’ made from African cocoa beans. Furthermore, the cocoa powder is sustainably sourced.

A spokesperson for Distell said: “With travel retail almost completely back in full swing, we are expecting this year’s show to be a strong showcase of all that travel retail has to offer. Recent years have highlighted the need for collaboration in the channel – this year’s exhibition provides a unique opportunity for all industry players to reconnect, reflect and solidify relationships, as well as showcase new innovations.”

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

Stand: H2, Red Village

Make a stop in Hall 2 to discover more about Texas‐made vodka Tito’s. The brand has been committed to extending its presence in the travel retail sector, including securing a spot on board Virgin Voyages’ cruise ships in late 2021.

At the stand, visitors will be able to peruse Tito’s Handmade Vodka – including the various package sizes available in travel retail, the duty free‐exclusive ‘ugly sweater’ festive bottle cover, and the brand’s 25th‐anniversary red, white and blue bag.

John McDonnell, managing director, international, at Tito’s Handmade Vodka, said: “Vodka drinkers in the US are very familiar with Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and we’re quite proud of how much consumers have embraced the brand. But in some markets outside of North America, we’re introducing Tito’s for the first time, and so the TFWA World Exhibition and Conference is a valuable opportunity to showcase our brand.”

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is also sponsoring The Spirits Business’ annual Travel Retail Masters Beach Party in Cannes on Monday 3 October.

McDonnell added: “We’re looking forward to a great show this year. Cannes is always a great opportunity to reconnect with our many distributor and retailer friends.”

Ian Macleod Distillers

Stand: K22, Red Village

Gin and whisky enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice at Ian Macleod’s stand this year. The company is set to reveal several new products during the TFWA show, each designed to enhance the business in 2023.

The star of the show will be a new addition to the Edinburgh Gin portfolio: Edinburgh Gin Orange & Basil. The new flavour will be showcased alongside the brand’s full‐strength gins and gin liqueurs. The Ian Macleod stand will also showcase a number of single malt Scotch whisky brands, including Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Smokehead and Rosebank.

Plus, the company’s global travel retail malt portfolio is expanding to include The Six Isles for the first time, a blended malt made from single malts from Skye, Arran, Mull, Islay, Orkney and Jura. And Highland single malt Shieldaig will reveal a brand refresh.

Among the blended Scotch whisky segment, the repackaged King Robert II will be on show. The bottling is the number‐one‐selling blended Scotch in travel retail by value, according to Ian Macleod Distillers.

Zamora Company

Stand: H22, Red Village

Spanish drinks company Zamora will have its full range of global travel retail‐exclusive spirits at this year’s event – including the one‐litre formats of Licor 43 Original and Horchata, Martin Miller’s Gin Original, and Villa Massa Limoncello.

The company is looking forward to connecting with its international partners in person, and exploring ways of working together. Zamora Company is pleased with the recovery it has experienced in the channel.

“It’s very encouraging to see this,” noted Alicia Jiménez Franco, travel retail and duty free manager at Zamora Company. “There are still obstacles to the full recovery of GTR – and any – sector, so it’s important for everyone to work together, and the show is the place for this to start.

“We’re up against issues that prevent international tourism and business. But we are all resilient and will work together to overcome this.”

Antica Sambuca

Stand: H60, Green Village

Italy‐based Rossi D’Asiago’s stand at TFWA this year was inspired by its recently opened AkademyLab: 360° immersive experience. Multisensory installations and historical reconstructions bring the visitor into a ‘unique atmosphere’, with visitors’ eyes likely to settle on the brand’s reconstruction of the founder’s pharmacy. This is where, more than 150 years ago, apothecary Giovan Battista Rossi began to experiment with new elixirs using herbs, infusions and stills.

Featured bottlings include: Antica Sambuca Classic, a sweet and natural Italian liqueur obtained by the distillation of an infusion of anise stars; Kranebet Botanic Juniper Liqueur, a rich, elegant, aromatic liqueur with a juniper taste; Limoncello Rossi d’Asiago, an authentic Italian lemon liqueur; and Grappa Culto di Amarone.

There will also be a space dedicated to hosting tastings and masterclasses, providing participants with ‘new valuable tools’ for their professional growth. The masterclasses will involve on‐site tastings and virtual appointments, with “the best exponents of international mixology”.

Douglas Laing & Co

Stand: H7, Blue Village

The independent Scotch company has had a busy year, joining the ready‐to‐drink (RTD) category with pre‐mixed Rock Island Whisky and Tonic. Appraisal was also given for its Big Peat 12 Years Old, Scallywag 10 Years Old, and Timorous Beastie 10 Years Old expressions by the SB team at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2022, as the trio of whiskies were each presented with a Gold medal.

Plus, the brand was handed the Taste Master Medal for its Old Particular Dailuaine 18 Years Old – Part of the Old Particular Midnight Series.

At TFWA, visitors will be able to explore Douglas Laing’s Global Traveller’s Range, plus, its first global travel retail limited edition bottling – Scallywag The Winter Edition, expected to hit duty free shelves worldwide in October.

Plus, a sneak preview of Scallywag’s exclusive Passport Series will be present. “Our team have made the strategic decision for Scallywag to take the lead at this year’s show,” said brand manager Rebecca Fennell.

Bulbash

Stand: E38, Yellow Village

Vodka enthusiasts will find a number of products to explore at Bulbash’s stand this year. The Belarusian vodka brand is bringing a number of expressions, including Bulbash No1, Bulbash No1 Malt, Bulbash 6, Greenline, Bulbash Nano, Bulbash Original, Greenline infusions, Bulbash No1 Bison Grass Infusion, and many more.

Aleksandra Chizh, export marketing manager for Bulbash, said: “We would like to express Bulbash company’s gratefulness to have the opportunity to participate in TFWA Cannes 2022. We hope to have more visitors in comparison with last year.”

Bulbash No1 is bottled at 40% ABV, and comes in three formats – 50ml, 500ml, and one‐litre bottles. The Bulbash No1 Cranberry comes in two sizes, 50ml and 500ml. Bottled at 40% ABV, the vodka is said to be ‘sophisticated’, with a ‘crisp’ flavour, while ‘the aftertaste is rich with the dominating flavour of ripe raspberries’.

The brand’s Bison Grass bottling also comes in 50ml and 500ml formats, in addition to a gift pack option.

La Martiniquaise-Bardinet

Stand: K67‐K68, Green Village

If you’re looking for a wide assortment of products spanning everything from gin to Cognac and Scotch whisky, make sure you stop by the Green Hall and pay a visit to La Martiniquaise‐Bardinet.

On the stand, you’ll find the following brands, to name just a few: Cutty Sark, Label 5, Glen Moray, Gibson’s Gin – including the new Blood Orange expression – Beehive brandy, Marie Brizard, and Cognac Gautier.

The French drinks company is looking forward to connecting with existing clients, and meeting prospective future partners. “We are very excited,” enthused Donatien Ferrari, La Martiniquaise‐Bardinet group communication manager.

Gibson’s Blood Orange became the second flavour in the French gin brand’s portfolio when it launched this year. It followed hot on the heels of Gibson’s Pink Gin, which first came out in 2019. Gibson’s Blood Orange is bright orange, and has been designed to offer an ‘original twist’ in cocktail making.

Liviko

Stand: B4, Blue Village

This year’s TFWA event is a standout one for Liviko, with the Estonian distillery and Baltic distributor introducing its Crafter’s Wild Forest Gin at the exhibition.

The bottling scored a Silver medal in SB’s The Gin Masters 2022, “a gin dedicated to the mythical evergreen forests of Estonia”, said a Liviko spokesperson. “We hope to launch our newest member of the Crafter´s family successfully – Crafter’s Wild Forest Gin – and continue successful development of Crafter´s gins with current partners and find new prospects in global duty free.”

As well as a focus on the Crafter’s Gin range, the stall will also spotlight its Vana Tallinn Liqueur, and Estonian vodkas Viru Valge and Bellingshausen. The brand saw further success in SB’s Gin Masters, with its Crafter’s Aromatic Flower Gin, which won a Gold medal, and Crafter’s London Dry Gin, securing the esteemed accolade of a Master medal.

Nemiroff

Stand: E30, Yellow Village

It’s been a challenging year for Nemiroff, as the Ukrainian vodka brand was forced to temporarily close its distillery in Nemyriv, in the Vinnytsia region of Ukraine, because of the war.

However, production has thankfully now resumed, and the award‐winning producer is looking forward to utilising the TFWA conference to connect with partners from around the globe. Nemiroff will be showcasing its De Luxe range, The Inked Collection, and The Originals series, offfering plenty for vodka enthusiasts to discover throughout the event.

The brand has been pushing forward with its marketing initiatives this year. Nemiroff partnered with Gloucester Rugby to be served in the team’s UK stadium, and collaborated with Caribbean Wines and Spirits to launch its brand in the Bahamas.