Talking shareable and summery sangria serves with Scotsman Group

July 21, 2026

For the latest in our series of columns with International Beverage, SLTN spoke to Roddy Coyle and Nicola Grant of Scotsman Group about summer menus, sangria and premium rum.

A long-time partner of International Beverage, Scotsman Group features the company’s brands in its outlets across Scotland. Every summer Scotsman teams with select brands on major drinks campaigns. Last year, this included the ‘Golden Hour’ with premium Thai rum brand Phraya.

In 2026, Phraya is featuring in Scotsman’s ‘Summer of Sangria’ campaign, which is taking place in venues that include The Gardener, Fonn Mór, The Corinthian and The Social in Glasgow, Maggie Dickson’s in Edinburgh and Forgan’s St Andrews.

What was the thinking behind the Summer of Sangria?

Roddy Coyle, director of beverage operations, Scotsman Group: “We like to do a summer drinks campaign every year. Something a wee bit unique and it’s always a great opportunity to really push our key sponsors for the year. Nicola and I will spend most of the year chatting and coming up with ideas.

“From my side I’m trying to see what’s trending in the beverage world and, from hers, what’s trending within the more social dynamic.

“This year we definitely decided that we had to create something that is shareable, something that had connotations of summer, getting away and losing yourself while you’re having a drink. For us there’s no better summer drink than going abroad and having a sangria.

“I think we’re both pretty much in agreement that although it’s great to just do a sangria, it’s a pretty common thing, so how do you tie it into the other trends in the world which, right now, are predominantly spritzes? So we just really wanted to pull everything together to make an amalgamation of all the trends.”

Why was Phraya a good spirit to work with when you were creating your summer sangrias?

Roddy: “I think, for me, if we’re talking the characteristics, it’s very smooth, it’s very palatable and it’s quite soft in that sense. It’s got very noticeable flavour profiles in it, but when you’re mixing it, it doesn’t get lost. It’s still quite noticeable that there’s a stronger base spirit in it. It’s got the right level of sweetness that doesn’t overpower the drink but doesn’t get lost in it either.”

How important is it that the drinks were not only delicious, but photogenic?

Nicola Grant, head of marketing and communications, Scotsman Group: “I think it’s a form of social currency. There’s a transactional element to ‘I’ve paid £9 for this and I want to post a video of it that captures a moment in time and lets people know that this is what I’m into’. I think people know when they’re posting their food and drinks content they’re trying to say something about themselves, like what type of person they are, stylistically who they are, where they go, what they like.

“I do think it’s important what it looks like, but I don’t necessarily think that means contrived or super over-stylised.”

How important is the relationship with Scotsman Group to International Beverage and the Phraya brand?

Gav Smith, channel marketing manager (UK), International Beverage: “The relationship between Phraya and The Scotsman Group has been a key driving force in the brand’s success throughout Scotland. This can be seen in the current cocktail listings across their estate, and the hugely successful Golden Hour activity last year. We are excited to see what the next chapter in the journey with Scotsman Group brings.”