NB Gin has partnered exclusively with Duggan’s Distillers to import the multi-award-winning spirit into the United States. It will initially be distributed to a number of high-end restaurants and cocktail bars in New York, before being rolled out to other selected states.
This is one of the biggest overseas deals for NB Gin so far and represents a very exciting transitional phase of the spirit moving to global brand status.
Since its UK launch in late 2013, there has been overwhelming demand for the spirit, and the word has spread quickly beyond the British Isles. In its first year of trading, the company’s revenue doubled and the number of exported bottles has doubled over the last 12 months. By 2017 it’s anticipated that revenue will have grown by six times that of year one and that exports will account for 75 per cent of the company’s total sales.
The interest from overseas markets has been vast with NB Gin already being sold in France, Spain, Germany, Denmark, Belgium and Australia, as well as the U.S. Strong interest is also coming from other major markets including China, Canada and Hong Kong, and the company aims to be bedded into multiple overseas markets by 2017.
NB Gin is produced using the extremely stringent London Dry distillation process at NB Distillery in North Berwick, East Lothian. Purely by chance, it was there that a senior Duggan’s colleague, while on holiday, happened to taste the gin and was so impressed by its quality and taste that he personally recommended that it was imported to the United States.
Vivienne Muir, CEO of NB Gin, says: “Similar to the UK, the gin market in the United States is becoming more and more focused on small batch artisan brands. Stockists are seeking out interesting hand-crafted gins because their customers are looking for variety, quality, authenticity and something which has a different 'story' to the mainstream brands.
“We’re thrilled that NB Gin can provide this, and are absolutely delighted that Duggan’s Distillers, which represents the world’s finest producers, has proactively selected our spirit as the first gin to be added to its portfolio.”
Steve and Vivienne Muir of NB Gin. Picture: NB gin
Among other accolades, it was honoured with a silver medal in the Micro Distillery category at The Gin Masters 2014, just nine months after launch. It won the “World’s Best London Dry Gin” category at The World Drinks Awards 2015 following three rounds of judging by an international panel of experts, and was awarded with a Silver Medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2015
Adam Hardie, Head of Food and Drink at Johnston Carmichael, which advises NB Gin, says: “NB Gin is a great example what the Scottish food and drink sector is capable of. They have built a strong, renowned brand around an excellent range of products which are beginning to gain traction across a number of export markets.”
NB Gin’s arrival in the United States will be further supported by a trade development visit to promote British gin across the pond. UK Trade & Investment, which works with UK-based businesses to ensure their success in international markets through exports, has selected NB Gin as one of only 22 brands taking part in this “gin mission” which will involve various events and tasting sessions in New York and Los Angeles at the end of October
