MacDuff targets Asia with RyeLaw whisky

MacDuff International is pushing its RyeLaw whisky across Asia travel retail and is also considering a cask-strength version of the brand.

Speaking exclusively to the drinks business, MacDuff International export sales director John Scott said: “MacDuff has been coming to TFWA Asia Pacific for many years and we still have our core brands such as Islay Mist, Lauder’s and Waterproof. But our main focus this year is on RyeLaw, our unique Scottish rye whisky. This is the most visible it has been. We are looking more at travel retail opportunities for this now it has launched domestically and we are talking to some people about doing a cask-strength version.”

Last year, MacDuff International admitted that it had plans to raise the profile of both rye whisky and Fife in Scotland with its launch of RyeLaw and take the GTR platform by storm.

Speaking to db about the company’s progress so far, Scott explained: “We did an exclusive deal in Europe with Heinemann initially for the first part of the year for the first few months and this is the first opportunity we have had to show it, but we have some meetings with some big players this week and so we will see how that goes.”

In terms of its plans across Asia, Scott added: “We would love to get RyeLaw into the major airports” and mentioned that MacDuff is “looking at China and Singapore and Thailand”.

RyeLaw has a grain bill made up from just over 50% malted rye and with the rest made from malt barley and described its demographic as “anyone who wants to try something unique”.