Unique Northern Irish spiced whiskey gains global recognition

Northern Ireland's Feckin Spiced Irish Whiskey has been named among the world's best spirits. The unique Feckin Spiced has been named the 'Best Flavoured Irish Whiskey' by the influential World's Best Spirits magazine.

The whiskey, produced by Echlinville Distillery at Kircubbin in county Down, was listed among 200 of the world's best spirits because of its rich flavour of blended Irish whiskey, vanilla and spices including cinnamon. The publication rated the whiskey an ideal winter warmer especially around the Christmas season.

Echlinville, only the second distillery in Northern Ireland, has developed a portfolio of successful brands including Dunville's Premium Malt, Dunville's Three Crowns, a premium blend, and Jawbox, a classic gin. The distillery is also launching its own gin and has a rum in the pipeline. It has won business with major retailers in Britain such as Fortnum and Mason and in the US.

Echlinville founder Shane Braniff also developed Feckin Spiced along with the original Feckin Irish Whiskey. Mr Braniff says: "The recognition for Feckin Spiced is a marvellous boost for what is a richly flavoured Irish whiskey, a key product in our developing portfolio of premium spirits.

"We are now ramping up production of our brands at Echlinville and have a number of new products at planning stage."

Feckin Spiced (70% proof and 35% ABV) is available in 50cl bottles and was launched in 2006 by Mr Braniff.

It was Ireland's first spiced whiskey and is described as having a "bright golden amber colour, pleasant aromas of walnut nougat, hay, orange spice cake, and dried heather follow through on a soft, silky entry to a dryish medium body with creamy cereal, honeyed nut, mossy river stone, salt flake, and peppercorn notes. Finished with a pleasant vanilla cream, mineral dust, and oak spice fade."