Six Northern Ireland distillers successful in International competition

Six Northern Ireland distilleries have won a record 16 major awards in the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition (IWSC) held recently in England. The awards from an influential panel of judges include three golds and five silvers for mostly craft distilleries in Northern Ireland.

The golds were won by Copeland in Donaghadee for its recently launched1778 Cash Finished Navy Strength Gin; Mourne Dew in Warrenpoint for its Rostrevor Ruby Gin; and Niche Drinks in Derry for Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Cream Irish Liqueur.

All the awards were for smaller producers of Irish gin and Irish whiskey as well as cream liqueurs. They demonstrate the growing strength of the Northern Ireland spirits industry and its growing achievements in the international marketplace. The companies are increasingly winning business in Europe, Asia, Australia and the US.

The IWSC is the world's largest and most influential international spirit awards company. It prides itself on providing expert, impartial evaluation, benchmarking, increasing brand awareness and boosting sales. The organisation’s supporters include eminent professionals and offers companies access to key buyers and influencers.

The Northern Ireland winners were:

Boatyard Distillery, Enniskillen

Winter Solstice Gin – Bronze

Boatyard Double Gin Silver

Copeland Distillery, Donaghadee

1778 Cash Finished Navy Strength Gin - Gold

Gin - Bronze

Hinch Distillery, Ballynahinch

5-Year Old Double Wood Irish Single Malt Whiskey – Bronze

Peated Irish Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Silver

Ninth Wave Irish Gin – Silver

Mourne Dew Distillery, Warrenpoint

Rostrevor Ruby Irish Gin  - Gold

Kilbroney Premium Irish Gin  Bronze

Niche Drinks, Derry

Irish Cream Liqueur – Bronze

Tesco Finest Salted Caramel Cream Liqueur –Gold

Tesco Irish Cream Liqueur Silver

Luxco Tesco The Quiet Man Irish Whiskey 2 Year old Single Malt Irish Whiskey Bronze

Rademon Distillery, Crossgar – Shortcross Gin Silver

Rosie’s Garden Gin - Bronze

Pictured: Gold award winner Copeland Distillery.