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Rich heritage underpins Northern Ireland’s success in distilling

Last year, food and drink companies generated over £5 billion for the Northern Ireland economy, with the sector remaining resilient throughout COVID-19. Invest Northern Ireland is working with hundreds of companies across the sector to help them remain competitive by growing sales, increasing exports, engaging in innovation and investing in the skills of their staff.

Distilling/brewing has re-emerged as one of Northern Ireland’s most dynamic and export-driven industries in little more than a decade. The region is now home to over 20 craft breweries and around 12 distilleries producing award winning single malt, pot still and blended Irish whiskeys, gin, vodka, rum, craft beer, hard seltzers and fruit infused grain spirits and poitin, a traditional pot still spirit distilled from a range of ingredients such as potatoes or cereals. From Old Bushmills Distillery, the world’s oldest licensed distillery, to newcomers including Hinch, Echlinville, Rademon, McConnell’s, Copeland, Killowen and Boatyard you can be sure of Pure, Natural, Quality drink and a warm welcome.

As a result of this growth, virtually every city and many towns and even villages across Northern Ireland (population 1.8m) are home to either a distillery or at least one craft brewery, often both. The region has also a thriving cider sector.

Several distilleries and breweries are now selling products abroad in markets such as Great Britain, the Republic of Ireland, other parts of Europe, Asia and the US. In addition to its growing reputation in brewing and distilling, Northern Ireland, a successful dairy farming region, is a recognised leader in the production of Irish cream liqueurs.

Belfast Distillerey Company

Belfast Distillery Company, the company behind McConnell’s Irish Whiskey, is pushing ahead with plans for a £20 million distillery development and world-class tourist attraction at one of Belfast’s most historically important buildings, the Crumlin Road Gaol.

McConnell’s, which dates back to 1776, has been revived as a brand by Belfast Distillery Company and is proving to be a real success in its’ home city of Belfast, being available in all of the top outlets across the city. A quality, 5 year old blend, it has recently won another gold medal, this time at the Warsaw Spirits Competition. These awards have helped build the whiskey’s portfolio internationally, boosting its distribution network. McConnell’s is available in several key global spirits markets, including the US, Canada, Russia, Australia and important Irish Whiskey markets in Europe.

E: info@belfastdistillery.com

https://mcconnellsirishwhisky.com/

The Boatyard Distillery

The Boatyard Distillery was founded by Joe McGirr in 2016 in a transformed boat house overlooking Lough Erne in Co, Fermanagh and focuses on crafting premium spirits that combine quality with provenance and heritage.

Boatyard Double Gin represents its core expression. This 46% ABV Irish distilled gin contains a locally foraged botanical called Sweet Gale, in an otherwise classic recipe. The double in its name refers to a double contact with juniper during distillation resulting in a juniper forward gin, perfect for Martinis. In May 2021, Boatyard launched its award-winning double gins in New York State through a deal with established distributor Empire Merchants and announced the appointment of Michael Smoley as market manager, in New York. Late 2020 saw Boatyard appoint previous director of bars of the Savoy, Declan McGurk as commercial director, and this recent appointment bolsters the distillery’s on trade credentials, as they strive for expansion.

https://www.boatyarddistillery.com/

Copeland Distiller

Established in 2016 by Gareth Irvine as a producer of natural fruit-infused gins, Copeland Distillery now produces a range of award-winning spirits including whiskey, rum and Poitin. Copeland retail their products throughout the UK, ROI and across Europe. It operates from a 102 year old converted cinema in the coastal town of Donaghadee, Co Down which also offers a visitor centre with a coffee hub.

In May 2021 Copeland launched its first whiskey product, a blended whiskey called Merchant’s Quay, having introduced a rum range in November 2020 amid the pandemic which joined its successful range of gins. The have also produced malt and pot-stilled whiskeys that are undergoing the maturation process and are expected to launch in 2024.

E: info@copelanddistillery.com

https://copelanddistillery.com/

Echlinville Distillery

Since establishing in 2012, Echlinville Distillery has been at the forefront of Ireland’s spirits renaissance. The independent, family-owned distillery is home to a portfolio of award-winning brands which are making their mark on the international whiskey and gin market. Echlinville is the proud custodian of Dunville’s Irish Whiskey. The ‘Spirit of Belfast’ is held in high esteem throughout the whiskey industry for its premium and super premium single malts and vintage blends. The iconic brand is synonymous with premium quality, exquisite taste and rich heritage. Echlinville recently announced a new distribution partnership with Hi-Spirits, which will see an increased presence for Dunville’s Irish Whiskey across the UK market.

As Northern Ireland’s first farm distillery, Echlinville whiskey has ‘field to glass’ traceability, something that is increasingly important in the global food and drink industry. In October 2020 the Kircubbin based distillery announced an investment of over £9m to help it increase production capacity and grow its brands of Irish whiskey and gin globally and the development of a new immersive visitor’s centre.

E: info@echlinville.com

https://echlinville.com/

Hinch Distillery

The £15m Hinch Distillery which lies between Belfast and Ballynahinch on the glorious Killaney Estate launched after much anticipation in November 2020. Owned by Dr Terry Cross OBE, Hinch Distillery boasts a quality range of Irish Whiskeys including Single Pot Still, Peated Single Malt plus their award winning Ninth Wave Irish Gin, the most highly awarded gin in the world in 2020. The Hinch distillery complex includes the stunning Hinch Brasserie restaurant, a refined gift store, event spaces, a Hinch Irish Whiskey distillery tour and a Gin School.

Recently Hinch won a double Gold Medal for its Irish Whiskey Double Wood Aged Five Years product at ‘The Fifty Best’ - a New York awards event and a Silver and Judges’ Selection at the Alberta Beverage Awards 2021. Meanwhile its Ninth Wave Irish Gin has been awarded “Best in Class” for a second year running at the Alberta Beverage Awards 2021.

E: Michael.Morris@hinchdistillery.com

https://www.hinchdistillery.com/

Rademon Estate

Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong began distilling their world-famous Shortcross Gin, which has over 30 global awards, on their County Down estate in 2012. Shortcross was the first craft gin produced in Northern Ireland in over a century. The gin has since gained a host of international awards for quality and innovation. Shortcross is now on sale in over 30 global markets.

In November 21, Rademon’s first-ever whiskey - Shortcross Single Malt Whiskey was named as the Winner of best New Irish Whiskey at The Irish Whiskey Awards. With the first two casks of Shortcross Single Malt due to be opened in the coming weeks, just 658 bottles from the first-ever release of Shortcross Irish Whiskey are available to reserve at the Rademon Estate Distillery website. The new single malt whiskey has been entirely produced onsite at Rademon. A total of £3.5m has been invested in the distillery since it was established and the Estate now houses the distillery, a state-of-the-art visitor centre and bottle shop.

E: hello@shortcrossgin.com

https://rademonestatedistillery.com/