World gold medal in US for Shortcross Gin

Shortcross Gin, the leading Northern Irish craft gin, has won a major award in one of the world's leading spirits competition.

The premium gin, handcrafted in small batches by Rademon Estate Craft Distillery at Crossgar in county Down, gained a gold award in the gin category in the recent San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the world's most influential competitions. It was the second time in the past two years that Shortcross gained recognition in the global competition for its premium quality product.

The company, owned and managed by husband and wife team David and Fiona Boyd Armstrong, was the first craft gin launched in Northern Ireland in over a century. The gin is now on sale in international markets and has also been listed by iconic retailers such as Fortnum and Mason in London.

In addition, the distillery recently signed with Not on the High Street, a unique UK retail operation specialising in premium products from the best small creative businesses. The retailer is the UK's leading online marketplace, attracting 39 million visitors annually.

The San Francisco World Spirits Awards (SFWSC) was founded in 2000 and is one of the oldest competitions of its kind. It is among the most exacting blind tastings anywhere. Judging is carried out by a respected team of experts.

Medal winners range from some of the most renowned international distillers to small-batch producers that the event helped put on the map. A medal is a universally recognised indicator of exceptional quality and craftsmanship.

In a saturated marketplace, winning a SFWSC medal sets a distillery apart from competitors while providing opportunities to further promote, market, and position a product to consumers.

Founded in 2012, Rademon Estate Distillery is located at the couple's historic family estate just outside Downpatrick, county Down. The first batch of the company's super premium craft gin, Shortcross was released in May 2014 to great critical acclaim. The distillery, in addition, has successfully launched several special editions and is also developing a new single malt Irish whiskey.

In just a year since its launch at the Rademon Estate Distillery, Shortcross has quickly become the choice of discerning gin drinkers at home and abroad. From Belfast to Dublin, London to Edinburgh and Paris to San Francisco, Shortcross is causing a stir in the global craft gin market.