- Category – RTD, “malt-based spirit”, 5% abv
- Available – From this month
- Location – The UK
- Price – SRP of GBP1.99 (US$2.61) per 25cl can
Douglas Laing & Co has leaned into its Rock Island Scotch whisky brand name with its debut RTD.
Rock Island Whisky & Tonic, unveiled this week, uses “malt-based spirit” as its base, thereby steering clear of Scotch definition rules. The premix is described by the company as a “balance [of] the finest island malt whisky with Scottish tonic water”.
“Following extensive experimentation, we settled on the Rock Island and Tonic long serve in answer to the ever-growing trend for pre-mixed cocktails in a can,” said MD Chris Leggat. “The recipe seeks to introduce whisky to a new audience via an accessible, appealing taste and convenient serve format.
Rock Island, which launched in 2015, comprises single malts sourced from the Scottish islands of Arran, Islay, Jura and Orkney.
In 2019, Douglas Laing bought the Perthshire-based Strathearn Distillery for an undisclosed sum. The purchase marked the blender and bottler’s first foray into distilling.
