Draynes Farm and Shortcross create unique gin and tonic sorbet
Draynes Farm in Lisburn has teamed up with Rademon Estate Craft Distillery in Crossgar to create a delicious dessert flavour.
A new gin and tonic sorbet has been launched by ice cream makers Draynes Farm using award-winning Shortcross Gin from Rademon Estate Craft Distillery.
Explaining the launch of the new sorbet, John Drayne says: "I decided to make the gin and tonic sorbet because I am a massive fan of Shortcross Gin and thought it would be a nice addition to our range and something different particularly for our foodservice customers.
"The gin and tonic sorbet is a project I've been working on for about a year, making various test batches until I got a taste I enjoyed. I then brought it to the Rademon Estate Distillery to meet with founders Fiona and David Boyd-Armstrong to see if they would be interested in partnering with us on this product. I was delighted when they agreed," he adds.
The new gin and tonic sorbet is zero fat and dairy free and widely available through retail and foodservice customers in Northern Ireland. The product, he continues, has "an aromatic, fragrant, juniper hit".
"Our sorbet features the floral-meadow notes of Shortcross Gin, from Rademon. We carefully blend this exquisite spirit with premier tonic, sugar and our own crystal-clear water in an entirely new and fascinating way.
"The resulting sorbet is full of character. The sugar serves to boost the flavours and enhance the texture, so Draynes Farm Gin and Tonic Sorbet is not overly sweet and retains its crisp, clean-cut bitterness and grassy notes.
"Whether as an intriguing amuse-bouche, the perfect aperitif before a meal or a citrusy palate-cleanser between courses, Draynes Farm Gin and Tonic Sorbet is sure to set those taste buds tingling," he adds.
Mr Drayne started developing the ice cream business as part of the family farm's successful milk processing and distribution business about four years ago. The farm has been producing milk and cream for 95 years. The farm operates one of the most technologically advanced milk processing businesses on the island of Ireland.
In the pipeline is a dark chocolate sorbet which has proved extremely popular in taste tests.
The new gin and tonic sorbet is described by the company as "a new twist on the gin revolution currently sweeping Northern Ireland".
Fiona Boyd-Armstrong, managing director of Rademon Estate Craft Distillery, producer of the acclaimed and award-winning Shortcross, Northern Ireland's original craft gin, which now exported to over 30 countries, says: "We were delighted when Draynes approached us about collaborating in the production of a unique sorbet featuring our gin.
"They've produced a really delicious sorbet to complement any meal or just to be enjoyed on its own. It has carried the distinctive flavours of the juniper and botanicals which make Shortcross such a unique tasting product," she adds.
For more than 80 years, Draynes Farm, a family dairy business, has been producing and delivering fresh milk and cream of the highest quality. They operate one of the most technology advanced dairy operations in Ireland and now use their milk to produce a successful range of ice cream flavours which have won national awards for quality and outstanding taste.
Draynes Farm, for instance, won 2 gold stars in the 2016 Great Taste Awards for its vanilla ice cream. The new sorbet joins an established portfolio of three and 10 ice cream flavours.