Spiced apple gin from Copeland in Northern Ireland

Copeland Gin, the Northern Irish craft producer of natural fruit infused gins, has launched a limited edition gin infused with spiced apple and blackcurrants for the Christmas season.

Gareth Irvine, who founded Copeland Gin a year ago, says the new gin reflects Northern Ireland's reputation as a producer of quality apples, including Armagh Bramleys, one of just three local products to have achieved EU protected status.

"It made sense to build on this reputation with an apple infused product for the festive season. It's a warming and refreshing drink that works particularly well in a gin and tonic with a stick of cinnamon and orange," he says.

Copeland Gin is a unique handcrafted infusion of natural fruits from Northern Ireland combined with the company's premium gin. The botanicals in the gin base have been carefully selected to complement the local fruit which is sourced from farmers in county Down.

"The result is a natural 'ginfusion' which not only tastes great but has the added benefit of supporting local farmers and producers," Mr Irvine adds.

Copeland Gin, he continues, is handcrafted in small batches to ensure the quality of an artisan product.

The new gin is the company's third product. It launched two fruit infused gins last year - Raspberry and Mint and Rhuberry, made from rhubarb and blackberries, all 37.8% ABV. All the company's gins are produced in 70cl bottles at around £30 each.

Mr Irvine continues: "Our core values of freshness, surprise and artisan quality are built into every bottle, with every handcrafted batch made from fruit sourced solely from county Down in Northern Ireland."