Premium gins in focus during unique Belfast festival

Northern Ireland's emergence as a gin production is being celebrated in Belfast from July 7 to August 20.

At the heart of the first-ever Gin Fest is the historic Crown Liquor Saloon, now owned by the National Trust because of its unique features including elaborate stained glass and woodwork by Italian craftsmen and regarded as being one of the UK's finest Victorian gin palaces. The bar won acclaim from Sir John Betjeman and is now a magnet for tourists and other visitors to Belfast.

A recognisable landmark of Belfast, the pub has featured as a location in numerous film and television productions, such as David Caffrey's Divorcing Jack in 1998 and Carol Reed's 1947 film Odd Man Out. The Crown is also a Grade A Listed Building.

Two gins have been developed in Northern Ireland, the most recent being Jawbox, a traditional Belfast gin launched earlier in the year by publican Gerry White that includes botanicals such as wild heather gathered by White from Black Mountain, part of the girdle of mountains surrounding the city. The gin is produced by Echlinville Distillery at Kircubbin in county Down, Northern Ireland's second distillery.

Echlinville has also developed its own gin, which was launched by Fortnum and Mason in London during a special Northern Ireland promotion in May.

Shortcross Gin was also launched three years' ago by husband and wife team David and Fiona Boyd Armstrong from Crossgar in county Down and features botanicals from the Rademon Estate. Shortcross has won acclaim in the San Francsco Win and Spirit Awards and is also on sale at Fortnum and Mason.

A fourth gin is set to be launched later in the year that will reflect the region's linen processing heritage.

Gin Fest 16 will showcase over 30 different premium versions of gins, together with unique gin infused cocktails, master-classes, gin parties, and a raft of free daily giveaways.

The gins will be categorized as Floral & Modern; Light and Citrusy Savoury and Dry; Juniper Heavy and Robust; and Something a Bit Different. They will include Wisconsin distilled Death's Door - one of the leading craft gins in the USA served garnished with a sage leaf.