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Scottish whisky brand Wee Smoky has expanded into the ready-to-drink (RTD) category with the launch of six premium canned cocktails designed to introduce smoky Scotch to a wider audience.
The Edinburgh-based brand has launched the range in 100ml cans, positioning the products as bar-quality cocktails for occasions spanning hospitality, travel retail, airlines, hotel minibars, gifting and premium convenience.
The range comprises four cocktails traditionally associated with non-whisky serves – Margarita, Salted Caramel, Espresso Martini and Grape-fruit-arita – alongside two whisky classics, Old Fashioned and Manhattan.
Wee Smoky said the four non-whisky serves were developed to appeal particularly to consumers who do not typically drink whisky, while the Old Fashioned and Manhattan are targeted towards existing whisky drinkers.
All six cocktails feature Wee Smoky's signature smoky Scotch whisky profile, with the brand aiming to demonstrate that smoke can be used to enhance rather than overpower a cocktail.
The Margarita combines lime, cactus notes and a smoky finish, while the Salted Caramel pairs caramel and salt with light smoke. The Espresso Martini combines coffee and chocolate notes with smoky depth, and the Grape-fruit-arita offers a smoky take on a Paloma, combining pink grapefruit, lime and citrus.
The Old Fashioned includes smoke and orange zest, while the Manhattan is positioned as a spirit-forward serve.
The range was developed with liquid development partner Jack Sotti, a former World Class Bartender of the Year, following years of experimentation by Wee Smoky founder Rory Gammell.
Gammell said: “Smoke has traditionally been seen as intense. Whisky has traditionally been seen as intimidating. We believe both deserve a wider audience."
Wee Smoky estimates that a global smoky RTD segment could eventually be worth more than $1 billion, based on the size of the global peated whisky market and projected growth in the RTD cocktails category.
The company said spirit-based RTDs are currently expanding by between 10% and 14% annually, with consumers increasingly seeking new flavour combinations and convenient premium serves.
The products are available to UK consumers through Wee Smoky’s website, with the first cans due to be dispatched from 3 August 2026. The brand has also secured distribution through specialist spirits wholesaler Select Drams, with discussions underway with potential partners in North America and Australia.
The brand was founded in 2020 as a single-grain Scotch whisky specifically designed for mixing. Its original whisky has since expanded into markets including Australia, France, China, the US, Hong Kong and South Korea.
The six products are available at 17%-32.1% ABV, depending on the serve, with the Margarita, Salted Caramel and Espresso Martini at 22% ABV, Grape-fruit-arita at 17%, Old Fashioned at 32.1% and Manhattan at 31.2%.
