Spotlight on top Scottish alcohol brands of 2022 from 3-5 featuring the nations favourite spirits
3. Whyte & Mackay
The second-largest selling Scottish spirit in the off-trade, Whyte & Mackay, has once again kept its podium position on the top brands list.
The Glasgow-based company says it’s success is down to the master blender and the triple maturation process used to create the popular tipple, renowned for its smoother, richer flavour.
The triple maturation process starts by selecting the finest aged single malts and aged grain whiskies from the Highlands and Speyside, before both malts and grain whiskies are carefully aged further separately.
While most blended whiskies stop at this stage, Whyte & Mackay adds an additional step of marrying the two types of whiskies in sherry casks.
And it is this crucial final chapter that ensures the finished product has a pleasing mahogany gold colour, is round and full on the nose, and has its unique taste.
The blending process also sees that no single whisky dominates another, thus creating a harmony of flavours.
And the brand offers a modern alternative, Whyte & Mackay Light, with a lower ABV of 21.5%.
Enriched via sweet sherry casks and bourbon barrels, the spirit is said to be perfect over ice or with a favourite mixer.
4. Glen’s Vodka
It’s been another busy and very successful year for Glen’s Vodka, which retains fourth place in the alcoholic drinks charts for Scotland.
In fact, the brand actually increased its market share by 2% to 29.1% when compared with last year, according to data from Nielsen.
And that boost is down to the fact that the vodka maker, owned by Loch Lomond Group, has been far from complacent.
The firm has just introduced two ready-to-drink products to the market – Glen’s Vodka with Cola and Glen’s Vodka with Pink Lemonade.
There’s also been a brand refresh, as Loch Lomond Group chief marketing officer John Grieveson explained.
He said: “Glen’s is a widely known symbol of Scottish wit and a good night’s fun. It’s synonymous with Scots culture and we take great pride in highlighting our Scottish roots.
“It’s an important part of our brand story – for both us and our consumers – which is why we felt that our heritage was one of the important elements to incorporate into our new brand refresh, ensuring our packaging matches our product offering.
“Our new branding highlights the heritage, featuring a new shield logo and detailed illustrations; while quality is also better reflected with bolder and more visible typography and a brighter and more vibrant colour palate, including the label’s glossy metallic gold finish.”
Glen’s Original Vodka has been made at a state-of-the-art facility in Catrine, Ayrshire, for more than 20 years and is enjoyed by millions of people across the country.
With a strong performer in the value category, the brand then introduced Glen’s Platinum as a spirit to be enjoyed on those extra-special occasions.
Glen’s has also forged rewarding partnerships with the SPFL and the British rugby Super League. And retailers can expect to see further NPDs in the next 12 months.
5. Bell’s
The history of Bell’s whisky can be traced back to 1825, when Thomas Sandeman set up his Perthshire business. Arthur Bell first got involved in 1845 – but the now familiar ‘Arthur Bell & Sons’ signature wasn’t registered until 1896.
The Blair Athol distillery where Bell’s is produced was established in 1798 and is one of Scotland’s oldest working distilleries.
Bell’s gets its distinctive flavour thanks to a select blend of grain and fine malt whiskies, all matured in oak casks. With a taste of spicy ginger cake, chocolate and a smoky finish, it has stood the test of time thanks to its consistent quality.
View the full top 10 list with data provided by Kantar via the link below:
