Northern Irish craft gins in top London showcase

Two top craft gin producers from Northern Ireland are bidding to build business in Britain by showcasing their products at the Spirit Show at London's Business Design Centre in Islington on 1-2 December

Copeland Fruit-Infused Gin, based at Saintfield in county Down and Belfast's Jawbox Classic Dry Gin will be sampling at the show which is set to take advantage of the "peak spirit buying" period of the year, just before Christmas.

Gareth Irvine, founder of Copeland Gin in 2016, says: "This is an exciting opportunity for me to reach out to a high profile audience in my main target market. I am looking forward to providing opportunities for visitors to the show to sample my deliciously different fruit-infused gins." He produces Rhuberry, rhubarb and blueberry, raspberry with mint 'ginfusions' and a special Christmas spiced apple with cinnamon.

Jawbox's founder and managing director Gerry White adds: "I've already set up distribution in Britain and been working closely to develop business throughout this important market. The show is a great platform for me to reach lovers of great gin." He established Jawbox, Ireland's only single estate gin, in 2015.

Spirit Show organisers are predicting an audience of more than 10,000 visitors to the show, which will focus on whisky, gin, vodka and rum brands, as well as Champagnes, wines and fine food.

"In 2015 more than £200 million was spent in the UK on spirits in the first two weeks of December," said Geraldine Reeve, show director.

"The Spirit Show will allow premium brands a perfectly timed opportunity to get up close and very personal with their potential customers.

"The best way to develop a relationship between product and customers is to face contact and The Spirit Show provides a unique opportunity to do just that."

Visitors to the Spirit Show will be able to take part in tastings, discussions and enjoy musical entertainment as well as "destination surprises".

"We'll be driving visitors with an extensive marketing campaign, PR and social media," added Reeve. "We are targeting Londoners and those who come into London regularly.

"They will be predominantly aged 25-44, ABC1 and with high incomes. We expect to attract couples and groups of friends who really want to get in to the Christmas 'spirit'."