Oxfordshire residents have long known the delicious secret of our local spirits, but now the rest of the world is finally catching on. Sky Wave has announced its official launch into international travel retail, marking a major commercial milestone for the multi-award-winning Oxfordshire distillery.

If you are flying out of Heathrow, Gatwick’s South Terminal, or Luton airports, you can now purchase “The Spirit of Oxfordshire®” airside. Sky Wave has been selected as a featured product within the newly launched Discover London duty-free stores.

This retail concept celebrates British heritage, showcasing premium products to a global audience and capitalising on the growing consumer demand for culturally resonant, authentic local goods. The brand joins an elite “Best of British” line-up, offering passengers a sophisticated gifting option or a premium treat for their own travels.

The Booming Business of Global Travel Retail Sky Wave’s arrival in international departure lounges is a highly strategic move that taps into several major business trends:

  • Sector Premiumisation: This strategic expansion aligns seamlessly with the ongoing premiumisation of the Global Travel Retail sector.
  • Rapid Market Growth: The UK travel retail market is forecast to reach a projected revenue of approximately £6.5 billion by 2030.
  • Duty-Free Outperforming Domestic: Fuelled by the rising popularity of craft spirits that offer a genuine sense of place, the airport duty-free spirits market recently outperformed domestic markets, growing by 6% in value last year.

Rachel Hicks, Co-Founder of Sky Wave, shared her excitement regarding the launch:

“We are incredibly proud to see Sky Wave officially taking off at Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton. Global Travel Retail is fundamental to building premium spirits brands, like Sky Wave, on a global scale.

We have distributors in Europe and Japan and are looking forwards to more international travellers being introduced to our craft English distillery.”

Sky Wave passionately champions a newly trademarked “Drink Better®” ethos, which encourages consumers to savour fewer, higher-quality drinks. While international jet-setters are just discovering these luxurious gins, vodkas, and non-alcoholic distilled spirits, we are lucky enough to have them here already.

Those who wish to experience the home of the World’s Best Gin without needing a passport can easily enjoy private and public distillery tours, engaging cocktail masterclasses, and guided gin tastings in the Oxfordshire distillery. You can find out more about Sky Wave’s range below.

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