Douglas Laing & Co: Bringing Particular Character and Authenticity for Scotch Whisky Into Travel Retail

Introduction by: Peter Marshall

Whatever category we cover, at TRunblocked.com we like to feature pioneering brands from large and small companies alike that make a genuine difference in travel retail. Each has a unique story to tell. This is especially true of today’s video, which features Kristiane Sherry’s interview with Scott MacDonald, Sales Director of family-owned business Douglas Laing & Co.

Theirs is an extraordinary story – not least the success of the colourful and character-driven Remarkable Regional Malts range, which was launched just a few weeks before Covid struck. “Nothing has gone to plan over the last 5 years”, Scott says, and nothing is likely to go to plan he adds. But it is Douglas Laing & Co’s very agility as a company that keeps their momentum going. The inaugural launch of Strathearn last year, with only 50,000 litres produced and “where they cut the spirit by taste”, is another great example of a premium quality brand with provenance and authenticity. “It’s about quality, not quantity”.

Travel Retail is a market the company takes seriously. It’s not just that it’s a shop window to the world, it provides a platform to educate and engage, providing companies like Douglas Laing & Co space to grow and offering shoppers looking for innovative brands the opportunity to try and buy their products. The characters featured on the labels of the Remarkable Regional range certainly stand out on shelf.

Scott sees that there is still a job to do when it comes to educating the market and consumers about blended malt whisky. The full information supplied on the Old Particular range is testament to this. On current market trends he sees the continuation of the move towards premiumisation and that the current market ‘adjustment’ will correct itself. “Scotch has been around for hundreds of years, and it will be around for hundreds more”. He’s absolutely right.

Enjoy the interview.