Hi-Spirits is expanding its gin portfolio with an agreement to distribute New Zealand brand Scapegrace Gin in the UK.
Coming from the Rogue Society Distilling Co, Scapegrace bills itself as the gin ‘from the bottom of the world’. Distilled in New Zealand using spring water sourced from the country’s Southern Alps, and 12 botanicals sourced from around the world, the spirit is batch-distilled using a restored 19th century copper whisky still, with each batch individually numbered.
Scapegrace is a traditional word for a rogue or rascal, and the brand celebrates gin’s sometimes murky history with a black-tinted bottle, which has a shape based on an antique genever bottle. The end result is a complex gin which combines classic juniper and citrus notes with subtler floral and spice undertones.
The partnership between Hi-Spirits and Scapegrace comes as UK gin sales continue to boom – analyst Mintel estimates that total gin sales were worth £1bn in 2015, and will top £1.3bn by 2020.
Hi-Spirits managing director Dan Bolton said: “Scapegrace is a great addition to our gin portfolio, as a premium spirit that carries New Zealand’s reputation for clean, fresh flavours with it.
“Consumers increasingly enjoy a range of gins and gin serves in their drinking repertoire. Along with offering on-trade and off-trade retailers classic and modern gins, both British and global, we’re helping them to plan their ranges and segment the gin category to meet consumer expectations.”
High profile marketing support will include a brand ambassador and a customised branded Scapegrace Gin camper van, which will be offered as both a consumer prize for festival trips as well as doubling as a pop-up bar and being used for trade incentives. Sampling, POS, and staff training in both the on-trade and off-trade are also planned.
Scapegrace gin is 42.2% ABV with an RSP of £39.99. Suggested serves for Scapegrace include:
Gin & Bit
- 50ml Scapegrace Gin
- Bitter Lemon
Pour over ice, top with bitter lemon and garnish with two slices of orange.
Aviation
- 45ml Scapegrace Gin
- 12.5ml maraschino liqueur
- 8ml crème de violette
- 12.5ml fresh lemon juice
Shake, double strain into a coupe.
More details at http://scapegracegin.com.
For more information, please contact Hi-Spirits on 01932 252 100, email enquiries@hi-spirits.com or see www.hi-spirits.com. The full Hi-Spirits portfolio is online at www.hi-spirits.com/portfolio.
