Sri Lankan flavours inspire Global Collaboration Between Three Iconic Beverage Families

Three family-led beverage pioneers, with Sri Lankan roots, have come together to celebrate the island’s rich flavours and ingredients through Three Families, an innovative collaboration that recently launched in Sri Lanka with special events in Colombo and Galle.

Bringing together the Rockland Group and Mr Lyan, alongside tea expertise from Dilmah, Three Families introduces a range of tropical beverage seasonings designed to enhance drinks with layers of flavour.

Since its debut in the United Kingdom last year, Three Families was listed among the top two out of the “Top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2025” by The Spirits Business magazine, which highlights brands that push boundaries and setting a new pace for the future of the drinks industry.

The idea for Three Families grew from a shared observation: despite their vibrancy, tropical Asian flavours rarely received meaningful attention, and their natural variability and seasonality made consistency and accessibility a challenge. Drawing on Sri Lankan ingredients and the diverse regions of Sri Lanka, a range of blends were designed to assist bartenders and, in turn, showcase these distinctive flavours to a global audience. With growing demand for Asian flavours in food and drink globally, driven by well-travelled customers eager to revisit the cultures they’ve experienced, the trio recognised a unique opportunity to fill this gap.

The blends incorporate ingredients such as rambutan, lemongrass, calamansi, tamarind and orange pekoe tea capturing the spirit of Sri Lanka’s markets, rainforests, and tropical landscapes.

Together, the three families combine generations of knowledge in tea, flavour, and drinks craftsmanship to create a product inspired by Sri Lanka and shared with the world.

About Three Families

Three Families is a collaboration between three family-led businesses united by Sri Lankan heritage and a shared passion for flavour innovation.

Amal de Silva Wijeyeratne, Managing Director of Rockland Distilleries and great-grandson of its founder, represents one of Sri Lanka’s oldest distilleries. Established in 1924 and celebrating its centenary in 2024, Rockland Distilleries produces renowned beverages enjoyed across Asia, Europe, North America, and Australia.

Ryan Chetiyawardana,  A.K.A, Mr Lyan, was born in Birmingham, England, to Sri Lankan parents with family roots in Colombo and Galle. The Mr Lyan Group is known for genre-defining cocktail bars including White Lyan, Dandelyan, and Lyaness. As well as Mr Lyan Studio, the creative consultancy agency for the drinks and hospitality sectors.

Dilhan C. Fernando, Chairman & CEO of Dilmah Tea, is the son of Dilmah founder Merrill J. Fernando. Established in the 1960s, Dilmah is internationally recognised for its commitment to authentic Ceylon Tea and ethical tea production.