Gin distillery sets mixologists an anniversary challenge
Shortcross Gin, the Northern Irish boutique distillery, recently celebrated the first anniversary of its launch by hosting a 'Signature Serve' challenge for Ireland's mixologists and bar staff.
The gin, developed by Rademon Craft Distillery in Crossgar, county Down, was used by 16 mixologists from restaurants, hotel cocktail lounges and bars to create original drinks for a panel of judges led by Oliver Ward of the Gin Foundry. They competed to develop the best Shortcross gin and tonic and a Summer Serve gin cocktail.
David Boyd-Armstrong, Shortcross Gin's head distiller, commenting on the event, says: "Over the past year we've admired and enjoyed all the innovative and delicious ways that our gin has been served. This led us to set up a competition to find a Signature Serve, the best and most innovative way of serving our gin with tonic and as a refreshing summer cocktail.
"We'll be using the winning serves as our Signature drink within our marketing drive to grow sales in the UK, Republic of Ireland and other parts of Europe, where our gin is now available. We will also be using the successful drinks to support our drive to develop sales in the US, another target market for us.
"We've already had significant interest from the US following our success in winning a silver medal in the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition at the first attempt and will be following this up over the next few months."
The challenge, the first of its kind in Northern Ireland featured finalists included representatives from the Merchant Hotel, Belfast and the Slieve Donard Hotel in Newcastle, county Down, as well as high-end restaurants such as Deane's and Hadskis, both based in Belfast. They were successful from entries across Northern Ireland. Shortcross Gin is described as "an aromatic and exceptionally long, smooth gin that redefines what an Irish gin should be".
The gin is based on fresh apples, elderberries and wild clover distilled with other botanicals including juniper, coriander, orange peel, lemon peel and cassia.
Mr Boyd-Armstrong adds: "The combination of botanicals creates a unique and uplifting aroma reminiscent of a summer meadow, and gives Shortcross Gin a classic yet contemporary flavour with an exceptionally smooth and long peppery finish."
"Shortcross Gin is driven by a small batch philosophy. We use the finest hand-picked botanicals, fresh water drawn from the estate itself and distilled in a bespoke copper still. Bottling and labelling are carried out by hand.
"The gin can be enjoyed without water and has an earthy character intertwined with orange peel and light peppery citric note and a mellow minty scent. Taste tests suggest the gin has vanilla notes is lightly peppery and oily with late notes of orange and elder on the palate. With tonic, the gin has clear citric and juniper notes. It is light floral with summer meadow and grassy notes. It has a heavy and oily taste with earthy and citric notes balanced between lemon and orange. The gin has an extremely long aftertaste."
Picture shows Stuart Podmore of Muriel's Cafe Bar, Belfast, winner of the Gin and Tonic category. The Summer Serve was won by Michael Brown of the Merchant Hotel, Belfast.