New Northern Irish flavoured gin in fundraising campaign

Copeland Gin, a handcrafted premium gin flavoured with fruits from the fields of County Down in Northern Ireland, is seeking to raise funds for production and marketing.

The new gin is the brainchild of Gareth Irvine, a Belfast-based businessman with a background in technology and has been researching the project for several years. He hopes to raise at least £23,750 through crowdfunding and has already secured pledges from supporters of almost £14,000 by the middle of next month.

He's already created two flavoured gins - Raspberry and Mint and Rhuberry, rhubarb and blackberries - and intends to launch in distinctively designed 70cl bottles.

"There's been a tremendous revival in interest in gin particularly in the UK and Ireland," he says. "I saw an opportunity to build on this and create different flavours using fruits sourced from Northern Ireland supplies.

"What I've developed is a premium gin aimed at those, especially women, seeking different flavours from traditional products already on the market. It's essentially a niche product that's handcrafted and will be produced in small batches to ensure consistently high quality," he adds.

He set up the business last year in premises at Saintfield in county Down to produce what he has described as 'ginfusions'.

"We infuse our own premium gin with fresh, locally grown produce from the fields of County Down particularly around the Killinchy area. Hand turning and mixing the fruit every few days allows us to instil quality into each and every bottle.

"Working with carefully selected botanicals of our base gin, the flavours released by the natural fruit additions ensure a premium taste that will surprise and delight.

"At 37.8% proof, the two premium 'ginfusions' can be enjoyed simply with tonic, as part of a cocktail or even on their own over ice. Raspberry and Mint goes well with Fevertree tonic, some fresh raspberries and a sprig of mint or it can be used to create a Gin-Collins. Rhuberry can be topped up with prosecco for an easy, aspirational cocktail," he adds.

Retail prices for both the Rhuberry and Raspberry & Mint 70cl bottles are £30 each.
"Every pledge of support not only helps us bring a new, exciting product to market but it helps assist local farmers, growers and suppliers in County Down."