World Duty Free lists Shortcross Gin

Shortcross Gin, Northern Ireland's small batch craft gin, has gained a listing with World Duty Free which will see the spirit on sale in its airport shops in London Heathrow, London Gatwick, London Stansted, Birmingham, Manchester and Edinburgh airports.

The business breakthrough for Shortcross Gin, made by Rademon Estate Craft Distillery in Crossgar, county Down, has been arranged by George Best Belfast City Airport, which is also stocking the craft gin.

George Best Belfast City Airport has facilitated a commercial relationship between World Duty Free and Northern Ireland's Rademon Estate Distillery.

The gin is also available through World Duty Free's online Reserve & Collect Service and Shop & Collect Service whereby passengers can pre-order or pre-purchase their items for collection upon travel.

Belfast City Airport commercial manager Joanne Deighan says the airport had been working on getting the retailer and craft gin company together for some time. She adds: "Having such a strong local brand take centre stage in terminal at World Duty Free provides a huge platform for the brand with tourists now able to take it home and enjoy a taste of Northern Ireland.

"It is a fantastic location for Shortcross Gin to significantly enhance awareness of the brand beyond Northern Ireland.

"However, we didn't stop there and conversations progressed to ensure that the brand achieved a presence in additional World Duty Free units across the UK which is a huge coup for a local, family owned business.

"We are committed to supporting local goods and providing producers with the chance to reach new markets. So in this Northern Ireland's Year of Food and Drink, it gives us great pride to have played such a key role in showcasing one of the most distinctive local products to a global audience."

World Duty Free liquor buying manager UK Nigel Sandals says: "We are very selective over which products we stock at World Duty Free, but for us Shortcross is a brand that fits in well with our own growth strategy and the demand from customers for local produce to take home and enjoy after their trip has ended."

Shortcross Gin was founded in 2012 by husband and wife team Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong.

David Boyd-Armstrong, the head distiller, adds: "We are delighted with the support from such a prestigious business as World Duty Free is. It has been an exciting year for us and our presence in World Duty Free in Belfast City Airport and across the UK is a landmark development which ensures that Shortcross Gin and Ireland's distilling heritage will be internationally recognised.

"Shortcross has been created as a classic gin with a unique twist; best described as floral meadows, wild berries and grassy notes. It is highly aromatic with an exceptionally long and smooth finish."