Scotland-based Brownhill Whisky Co. is in talks with distributors to expand its liqueur range to the EU.
The company, founded by wife and husband team Iona and Craig Brownhill in 2022, market liqueurs, principally in Scotland.
The Brownhills had previously worked at a Norwegian whisky distillery and decided to establish their own operation in Perth, Scotland.
The distiller sells a range of vodka-based liqueurs under its Pomology Liqueurs brand. The line of SKUs includes the flavour variants Ginger & Rose, Strawberry & Cacao and Whyn, Basil & Grapefruit.
“I think vodka is a good category to be part of. I think it is a competitive category but I do see it as a good category,” Iona Brownhill said. “Gin we thought was kind of sliding a little bit.
“We were looking at something that was a bit different and people would enjoy tasting. We've heard murmurings of rum but I actually think vodka is it. People love vodka, they love cocktails that are easily blended with vodka.”
Brownhill Whisky Co. is most active in the on- and off-trade in Scotland. However, the company is in talks to expand into the EU, with a focus on the Nordic and eastern Europe markets. Iona Brownhill said the company also had received interest from distributors in Italy.
“The Nordic markets we know relatively well after being based over there as whisky distillers for several years,” she said.
“The eastern European markets because they are less saturated, so for an international young brand it should be easier to break through.”
Brownhill Whisky Co. is weighing up a launch into the US but is unsure at this stage due to the complexity of securing distribution in the country,
“Every state is different,” Iona Brownhill said. “You have to put up so much more money to push yourself into a shop, get yourself known, than you actually get back.”
The company also distills whisky but the products are in cask and are due to be bottled next year.
On the prospect of whether the group would need external funding to support its expansion, Iona Brownhill said its liqueur range was self-funded. However, she added it would at some point seek funding to develop a whisky brand, capital which would be used to purchase and maintain casks.
