Wemyss Malts unveils raft of changes and growth plans for spirit
THE firm behind the recently-renamed Darnley’s Gin has announced a raft of changes to the brand as it prepares for a year of expansion.
Production of the gin, which was launched as Darnley’s View in 2010 by Edinburgh-based Wemyss Malts and rebranded Darnley’s Gin last month, is set to relocate to Scotland in the coming months.
The gin, which is currently distilled in London, will be produced in a new facility next to its sister whisky distillery at Kingsbarns, in the East Neuk of Fife, which is due to open this summer.
The new Darnley’s Distillery is being developed in a disused cottage, and plans for a “visitor experience” are expected to be announced within the next few months.
News of the relocation of production came as the gin was rebranded and its packaging revamped.
Designed to “celebrate the spirit’s quality and craftsmanship”, the new-look packaging uses rich colours and features hand-drawn illustrations to convey the different botanicals in each expression.
The refreshed branding has been rolled out across the range, which includes the 40% ABV Darnley’s Original Gin; Darnley’s Spiced Gin (42.7% ABV); and new Darnley’s Spiced Gin Navy Strength – a 57.1% ABV gin described as having “intense warming spice flavours” and said to have been inspired by Sir Rosslyn Wemyss – an ancestor of brand owners the Wemyss family, who was an admiral of the fleet, commanded ships during the First World War and was the senior British representative at the signing of the Armistice of November 11, 1918.
We felt it was the right time to refresh Darnley’s Gin and bring production in-house.
Commenting on the changes to the brand and expansion plans, William Wemyss, owner and managing director of Wemyss Malts, said: “We felt it was the right time to refresh Darnley’s Gin and also to bring production in-house, more specifically, home to Fife, where the Wemyss family has lived and worked for centuries.
“Our links to the whisky industry date back almost two centuries and our foray into producing began back in the 1970s. Investing in the Darnley’s Gin portfolio and in being ‘made in Scotland’ is another bold step in our business story which is driven by an ongoing passion for making the highest quality spirits for people to enjoy.
“We are all very much looking forward to rolling out our plans for Darnley’s Gin and to seeing it flourish in markets around the world in years to come.”
Emma Hooper, brand manager of Darnley’s Gin, said 2017 is an “incredibly exciting and significant time” for the brand.
“After six successful years in the category, taking this step to re-imagine our packaging and create a welcoming brand home in Scotland is an evolution that will highlight the exceptional quality of Darnley’s Gin, reinforce our spirited heritage, and strengthen our premium position in the market,” said Hooper.
