Drinks World
Gin is still the thing Five years after her article on the growing popularity of Irish craft gin, Mairead Robinson finds that the appeal of this spirit shows no sign of slowing down. In 2016 I highlighted the growing interest in both making and consuming gin in this country, and the appearance of ‘micro breweries’ producing bespoke botanical recipes that a new generation just could not get enough of. And looking at the market now, five years on, this growing popularity appears to continue to spread out across the generations. No longer just a “G & T with Ice and a Slice” we are now looking at flavoured gins, pink gins and best of all, Gin Cocktails. Of course while the market is now full of Irish craft gin from all over the country, the key to their great taste and marketing appeal is of course the botanicals. Juniper is the key ingredient in all gins, but local wild and cultivated flowers and spices mark out the gin’s individuality. We are talking about elderflower, cumin, coriander, almonds, rosemary, thyme, rosehip, fuchsia, heather, nutmeg and many other flavours that make up some of these gins. I found recently that while there are many new distilleries all over Ireland, there seems to be a particular concentration at the two ends of the country – Donegal and the South West.
Rebel City Distillery, the first new distillery in Cork city in almost fifty years, has launched its first release, Maharani Gin. The word ‘Maharani’, meaning Queen, is a tribute to revolutionary women everywhere. Rebel City Distillery was founded in 2020 by husband-and-wife Robert and Bhagya alongside Robert’s father Brendan Barrett. Maharani Gin celebrates a fusion of Cork and Kerala cultures, from where Robert and Bhagya respectively come from. This exotic premium gin is zested with pomelo fruit, and uniquely spiced with cassia and nutmeg-mace, all sourced from a women’s organic farming co-operative in Bhagya’s home state of Kerala, in India. This heady combination results in a gin of truly transcendental taste, a liberation of spirit and spice. gorgeous pink gin that is produced by West Cork Distillers. Pink Gin is so perfect for cocktails, so attractive in the glass, that this one which bears his name is a real winner. Infused with twelve botanicals and a blush of pink rose petals, Graham Norton gin is small batch distilled with rosehip, fuchsia petals and gooseberries. It is also produced by West Cork Distillers.
Created by one of Ireland's first female Master Gin Distillers, Deirdre Bohane, each bottle of Garnish Island Gin contains 16 botanicals that are cold infused overnight to release their essential oils. They are then slowly distilled in a pot still, resulting in a full-bodied, aromatic gin that perfectly captures the unique, exotic character of the Island. Graham Norton who hails from West Cork and has been involved in making wines with Invivo for the last number of years, is now behind a 56 Senior Times l September - October 2021 l www.seniortimes.ie
Photo Gaby Yerden-Unsplash
Starting with Cork, West Cork Distillers has grown in recent years to become one of the largest independent distillers and while West Cork whiskies are what they are mostly known for, they also produce a number of other spirits including a delicious Garnish Island Gin.
