Northern Ireland Boatyard named among the UK's top 15 gins

Northern Ireland's Boatyard Double Gin has been named among the UK's top 15 gins by the influential Olive food magazine.

The magazine, the UK's biggest selling monthly food and drink publication, says Boatyard "lives up to its classy label. The gin also has a hint of floral sweetness thanks to the sweet gale that's foraged from Boatyard's own farm in Fermanagh".

Boatyard Double Gin, based in a converted boathouse on picturesque Lough Erne, near Enniskillen in Fermanagh, was established by experienced distillery businessman Joe McGirr in 2016.

The small company, based at Enniskillen in county Fermanag,h has been supplying the gin to retailers and bars in the UK, Republic of Ireland and other parts of Europe.

Mr McGirr, commenting on the listing by Olive magazine, says: "This recognition is immensely encouraging for such a small distillery as Boatyard and will help to showcase our unique double gin especially in Britain."

Boatyard Double Gin was first in a portfolio of spirits planned by the small distiller. He's already distilling Irish whiskey and is planning vodka. It was awarded the Master Award for gin at the Spirits Design Masters 2016, part of the internationally renowned Spirit Masters series.

"Boatyard Double Gin is the essence of this part of Fermanagh. Organic wheat spirit goes through a double contact distillation process using botanicals which have been foraged and selected for an exceptional flavour journey," he adds.

Recognising the growth in craft gins in recent years, Olive magazine turned to Olivier Ward, editor of Gin Foundry, to pick the top 15 gins distilled in the UK.