Boatyard Double gin first Irish gin to launch in Waitrose

The Boatyard Distillery in Northern Ireland has become the first Irish gin to launch in Waitrose & Partner stores across the UK and online. 

Waitrose will now sell the unique double distilled gin produced at the distillery, which is located near Enniskillen on the shores of Lough Erne in county Fermanagh.

Launched in 2016 by Joe McGirr, The Boatyard Distillery is a family-run, independent distillery housed in a disused boatyard.  It is the first working distillery in Fermanagh in over 130 years.

Focused on creating farm-to-bottle spirits using locally-sourced botanicals that celebrate the region’s rural setting, Boatyard Distillery’s collection includes three core premium expressions: Boatyard Double Gin, Boatyard Old Tom Gin and Boatyard Vodka – alongside seasonal limited editions. The distillery is also planning an Irish malt whiskey.

Joe McGirr, founder and managing director of Boatyard Distillery, says: “We’re delighted to bring our Boatyard Double gin to Waitrose and make it more accessible around the UK for people to taste and try.  We agonise over the detail that goes in to making our gin and it’s fantastic to see it being enjoyed far and wide.”

Waitrose has been influential in taking the craft gin revolution mainstream and prides itself on the quality of the brands it works with. 

The Boatyard Distillery signed an exclusive partnership agreement in January 2020 with Speciality Brands to focus on growing the UK wide market.