Top business award for Northern Ireland's Jawbox Gin

Jawbox Gin has been named the 'Best New Business' in the annual Belfast Business Awards. The gin was the only food and drink producer named among the 18 awards made by business leaders in Belfast.

The premium gin, distilled in Northern Ireland from locally-grown barley, was launched in early 2016 by Gerry White, an experienced publican in the city.

The gin is now sold widely throughout Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland and has also won business in Britain including with major retailers such as Marks and Spencer and Asda.

White, commenting of the company's latest recognition, says: "Winning this award in Belfast is a marvellous endorsement of our small business launched just 18 months ago. We've made tremendous progress over the period and won some very exciting business particularly in Great Britain.

"My aim was to revive the gin making tradition in Belfast that dates back to the 19th century. It has its roots deep in the history and traditions of the city, and I want to see Belfast gin on sale in Britain, the Republic of Ireland, other parts of Europe and the US.

"The Belfast Business Award is reward for all the hard work in developing and promoting Jawbox. Our focus now is on consolidating the progress we've made in existing markets and on searching out new opportunities. We've recently been well received in Canada and have plans to enter this market and also the US later in the year," he adds,

A former publican who managed leading bars in Belfast, White formed the Jawbox Spirits Company in Belfast to develop and market the gin (46% proof) in distinctive 70cl bottles.

The gin is being produced from barley grown on a county Down farm and distilled on-site. Among the mix of botanicals in the gin is heather harvested from mountains overlooking Belfast.

Jawbox takes its name from the large metal kitchen sinks which were a feature in Belfast homes in the Victorian era.

Organised and hosted by Belfast Chamber of Trade & Commerce with principal sponsor, Bank of Ireland UK, the annual, highly-coveted ceremony has become synonymous with recognising, promoting and rewarding the excellence of Belfast-based companies.

Over 60 of Belfast's top businesses made the shortlist spanning 18 categories, from creative, community, digital marketing, age-friendly to food and drink.