Boatyard Distillery gains significant investment for growth in gin, vodka and whiskey

The Boatyard Distillery has successfully closed a £634,000 investment round through the Halo Business Angel Network (HBAN) from private investors and Co-Fund II for the development of award winning double gin, vodka and forthcoming Irish malt whiskey especially in export markets.

HBAN is a joint initiative of Invest Northern Ireland, InterTradeIreland and Enterprise Ireland, dedicated to the all-island promotion of business angel investment.

Co-Fund II is part of the Invest Northern Ireland’s Access to Finance portfolio and is managed by Clarendon Fund Managers.

The craft distillery, based near Enniskillen in county Fermanagh, has currently been producing hand sanitiser in response to the coronavirus pandemic and has just won a listing from Tesco in Northern Ireland for the product. It’s the first local distillery to win business from Tesco Northern Ireland.

The distillery and visitor centre was set up by Mr McGirr in 2016 on the back of his extensive experience in spirits production and marketing. It currently produces Boatyard Double Gin, Old Tom Gin and vodka.

“We are really pleased to secure this investment and excited about the unique experience our new investors will bring, particularly when it comes to growing our presence overseas,” says Mr McGirr.

“The gin market remains highly competitive but we offer something different, with some botanicals grown on the family farm.

“Right now, Covid-19 has interrupted some of our immediate plans but we have responded to the situation by being innovative and using our expertise to produce a product that is not only in high demand but which our health service and key workers desperately need. We are pleased to play our part in the fight against Covid-19 by donating supplies to help those people on the frontline doing great work for everyone in the Fermanagh region.”

The company has secured deals with supermarket chains M&S and Waitrose to stock their products across the UK and Ireland. The double gin uses a blend of botanicals including Fermanagh Sweet Gaei.

In response to the coronavirus crisis, the distillery diversified and started production of hand sanitiser, to World Health Organisation specifications.

Boatyard Distillery has given away more than 1,200 litres of sanitiser to front line services in Fermanagh including to NHS key workers and supermarket staff and is now selling the product to customers in other industries, both locally and internationally.

The sanitiser will be stocked in Tesco stores in Northern Ireland from this week.

HBAN allows companies from a wide range of sectors to pitch to angel investors for funding. Currently, there are around 80 registered members in Northern Ireland. Co-Fund II is supported by ERDF under the EU Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme 2014-2020.

More information on HBAN can be found at https://www.hban.org/. Anyone interested in joining the network and taking part in its next remote pitch event on May 27 should contact C.Owens@clarendon-fm.co.uk.

Image: Joe McGirr of Boatyard Distillery wins new investment to grow exports