Export deals for Northern Irish premium craft gin

ShortCross, Northern Ireland's premium handcrafted gin, has won its first export sales into the Republic of Ireland. The family-run business, already a supplier to Fortnum and Mason in London, now includes The Celtic Whiskey Shop and Donnybrook Fair, both based in Dublin, among its developing customer base.

ShortCross has been developed by Rademon Craft Distillery in Crossgar, county Down and is the first premium, small batch gin developed in Northern Ireland in over a century.

The company's ShortCross Premium Gin is the first in a portfolio of small batch alcoholic beverages that the company plans to develop at its new boutique distillery on the town's Rademon Estate.

The company is investing over £500,000 in the development of the business.

Rademon Craft Distillery was established by husband and wife team David and Fiona Boyd-Armstrong in April 2012 and is the outcome of extensive market research in Britain and other international markets into opportunities for craft-based premium drinks. They launched the small batch gin earlier in the year.

Mr Boyd-Armstrong, commenting on the first sales secured in the Republic, says: "Winning business with two such upmarket customers is a tremendous boost for the business and gives a foothold in a market that we've targeted for growth."

"Our objective in setting up Rademon Craft Distillery, is to exploit a developing market opportunity in Britain and other parts of Europe for premium small batch gin and other small batch spirits

"The launch of our gin has proved an outstanding success over the past 10 months and positions us for faster growth in 2015.

"We are rejuvenating a distilling tradition that stretches back over centuries to a period when many larger towns in Northern Ireland had distilleries producing whiskey and gin.

"Our products are pitched at the upper-end of the market, superior spirits, especially in terms of taste, which are produced in small batches with tight quality controls and can, therefore, command premium prices."

The micro-distillery uses botanicals grown on the Rademon Estate along with juniper and aromatics.