Ruby Blue toasts success at Liqueur Masters 2013

Northern Ireland's Hughes Craft Distillery Company is celebrating success in this year's Liqueur Masters, an international event to find and signpost the finest liqueurs on the world stage.

The event ranked entries in silver, gold and master categories based on the findings of a team of experts brought together by the influential Spirits Business.

Hughes Craft Distillery, based at Lisburn in county Antrim and owned by husband and wife team Stuart and Barbara Hughes, gained as series of awards for their RubyBlue branded berry and spirit liqueurs.

The small artisan distillery gained the top award - a Master in the Bottle Aged Liqueur category for RubyBlue Wild Blackcurrant 17%.

RubyBlue Wild Cranberry Liqueur 17% was awarded Gold also in Bottle Aged Liqueurs; RubyBlue Chilli Pepper 17% , a recently launched product, was also awarded Gold in Bottle Aged Liqueurs; and RubyBlue Wild Blueberry Liqueur 17% Silver, also in Bottle Aged Liqueurs.

Barbara Hughes, commercial director, commenting on the results, says: "Winning these awards in such a prestigious competition is a marvellous endorsement of the quality and innovation which underpins our range of liqueurs and will be on immense benefit to us as we seek to drive sales in all our target markets especially in the US, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific.

"The awards are an important showcase for a small business that is essentially an artisan distillery."

Hughes Craft Distillery has developed a range of original 100% Natural liqueurs that are made with real ingredients such as Berries or Chilli Peppers which are emerged and aged inside the bottle with Irish grain spirit to provide a clean True flavour. Not syrupy and Sweet as often expected the RubyBlue liqueurs are as beautiful to enjoy over ice, as a champagne topper or an ideal mixer for a wide range of cocktails.

RubyBlue is a naturally bottle-aged liqueur - the first of its kind! With a choice of cranberry, wild blueberry, blackcurrant or chilli pepper RubyBlue is delicious over ice, in cocktails or added to champagne or prosecco to create Berry Bobbing Bellini's, Other awards won include UK Great Taste Awards; Best In Ireland Award; Gold Winner 'Liqueur Masters International' and Gold medal winner in USA 'Tasting Panel Magazine'

The Liqueur Masters was launched by Spirit Business in a drive to find and reward the finest liqueur brands on the world stage. Chaired by The Spirits Business and a panel of leading spirits specialists, the liqueurs were judged in a blind tasting, to discover the Liqueur Masters of 2013. Excellence was recognised by category, age and design and packaging. Silver, Gold and Master medals will be awarded in each category.