Ian Macleod Distillers partners with Avolta in Edinburgh Gin Boutique at Edinburgh Airport
The new Edinburgh Gin boutique at Edinburgh Airport marks a major milestone for the brand and reflects the strategic importance of travel retail
Ian Macleod Distillers has unveiled its first airport boutique for multi award-winning gin brand, Edinburgh Gin, developed in close collaboration with global leading travel experience player, Avolta.
The Edinburgh Gin Boutique at Edinburgh Airport, the historic home city of Edinburgh Gin, is a 20 square meter space in the World Duty Free store. It reflects the architecture of Edinburgh Gin’s new distillery and visitor center at The Arches near Waverley Station in central Edinburgh, which opens this autumn. Design features include stone walls, arched wall bays and striking black paneled cladding, all inspired by the new distillery. A central bar, hosted by trained staff, will drive engagement with travelers, offering nosings and tastings across the range along with various sensory experiences.
The boutique increases Edinburgh Gin’s presence at the airport, complementing the brand’s signature bar at Plaza Premium’s airside executive lounge, which opened in 2022.
Key Lime & Ginger is the first pairing of its kind in the gin category
William Ovens, Ian Macleod Distillers Global Travel Retail Director, said, “We are proud to unveil The Edinburgh Gin Boutique at Edinburgh Airport, which was developed together with global leading travel experience player, Avolta.
“We are thrilled to introduce this wonderful retail experience, which is a major milestone for Edinburgh Gin and reflects the strategic importance of travel retail to the brand. Edinburgh Airport is one of the top outlets in the world for Edinburgh Gin sales, so we are confident the boutique will be a real success. Edinburgh Gin plays a leading and pioneering role in the gin category and this exciting collaboration with Edinburgh Airport and Avolta showcases Edinburgh Gin’s flavor, craft and creativity to travelers in our home city.”
The Edinburgh Airport boutique presents a range of full-strength gins and gin liqueurs and coincides with the launch of a new full-strength flavor, exclusively created for Avolta and its UK World Duty Free stores. Key Lime & Ginger, an exotic but relatable flavor combination, is the first pairing of its kind in the gin category and replaces award-winning Strawberry & Pink Peppercorn as the Avolta-exclusive flavor. Strawberry & Pink Peppercorn remains available in Avolta stores and is also now widely available throughout travel retail. The hero serve for Key Lime & Ginger is with tonic and a squeeze of lime juice, garnished with a lime twist and plenty of ice.
Later this summer Edinburgh Gin will launch an exciting airport exclusive gin, crafted specially for the boutique. With the continued growth of the London Dry category, Seaside Gin is now also available there.
David de Miguel, Avolta Global Category Head of Liquor, commented: “We are delighted to extend our partnership with Ian Macleod Distillers and Edinburgh Gin with the opening of this new boutique; it is a natural development for this top-performing brand in Edinburgh Airport, which links so well to the city and airport.”
Gail Taylor, Edinburgh Airport Chief Commercial Officer (Non Aero), added: “As an airport, it’s important that we showcase the very best Scotland has to offer and you could say this new boutique is just the tonic.
“Working with and promoting local brands to our passengers is something we place focus on through our Greater Good sustainability strategy and we are proud of our long-standing links with Edinburgh Gin. We’re sure this Boutique will be a big hit with passengers, whether they are looking to pick up a gift for friends or family or treat themselves to something special as they jet off on their travels.”
Edinburgh Gin’s new packaging is also making its travel retail debut at the boutique. The brand’s new packaging communicates the ‘Filled with Wonder’ positioning and encapsulates the individual personality of each of its premium gins, highlighting the commitment to natural flavors. The new bespoke bottle has moved to 49% recycled glass content, which will increase as glass-making technology allows. It has recyclable aluminum capsules and fully recyclable FSC-certified paper labels and contains recycled materials. All secondary packaging has been removed across the core range.
