Three Families
How do we bring South Asian flavours to Western bars and restaurants?
Rockland Distillery, a century-old family-run business established in 1924, embodies a legacy of craftsmanship and innovation. What began as a partnership between friends has evolved into a multi-generational enterprise renowned for its world-class spirits, including gin and arrack, a traditional South Asian spirit. Amal de Silva Wijeyeratne, the Managing Director of Rockland, is deeply passionate about flavours and sought to share the unique and vibrant tastes of Sri Lanka with a global audience. This ambition was nurtured through a long-standing friendship with Mr Lyan Studio and Ryan, setting the stage for a transformative project.
We wanted to develop a product that captured the essence of Sri Lanka, the country, its flavours, and its rich culinary heritage. Simultaneously, addressing the challenges faced in Western markets getting hold of South Asian flavours in reliable, affordably supply.
The product brings together the expertise of the three different families: Rockland Distilleries, Dilmah Tea, and Mr Lyan.
Thus the product Three Families was created.
Our Approach
The foundation of the project lay in defining the story that needed to be told. Sri Lanka’s vibrancy, expressed through its bold and nuanced flavours as well as its cultural richness, was the central narrative. This guided the decision to move beyond traditional bitters and instead create cocktail seasonings: versatile flavour blends designed to elevate mixology while remaining true to their Sri Lankan roots.
The strategy drew on Studio and Rockland’s expertise in the beverage industry, and a bartender’s perspective. This approach ensured the seasonings were crafted to be both practical and inspiring in bar settings. Instead of focusing on singular, widely available flavours, the Studio team opted for complex blends that highlighted the unique and hard-to-access flavours of Sri Lanka. These blends would encapsulate a balanced, nuanced profile, making them irreplaceable assets in any bar or even kitchen.
The solution was to develop blends were designed to be effortless for bartenders to use while delivering layers of complexity and personality.
Commercial Success
Since launch in early 2025, Three Families has see on-trade adoption grow consistently.
The range has achieved listings on bar menus including Dishoom (multiple sites), Swift (all sites), Jikoni (London), Cally Bar (Edinburgh), Johnnie Walker 1820 bar (Edinburgh), Anglothai (London), Kochchi (Glasgow), Speak in Code (Manchester), The Dorchester (London) and Dragonfly (Edinburgh).
Three Families is stocked by Whisky Exchange, Speciality Drinks, Atom Brands and Berry Bros. & Rudd.
In 2027, the brand will begin distributing across asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka.
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