Our first product, Kinsale Gin has taken a while to be coaxed from an idea to a reality! Born from the musings of two publicans it took the coming on board of another willing to forage their way through the Kinsale landscape, land and shore, for it to turn into Kinsale Gin. Local botanicals (and quite a few nettle stings) are gathered seasonally and sensitively, leaving enough behind for the birds and future crops. The flavour of Kinsale Gin is truly of the Kinsale countryside and the development process went through many iterations before the final harmonious aroma and taste were established. Kinsale Gin has elegant amounts of juniper with notes of meadowsweet, elderflower and elderberry combining with aromas of lemon verbena and lemon germanium. Other interesting and unusual botanicals underscore Kinsale Gin’s complex personality. Kinsale Gin is currently distilled by the team under the watchful eye of master distillers while the search continues for a perfect home in Kinsale. This is a labour of love so compromise is not on the cards! Thankfully, in the interim, this spectacular Gin can be enjoyed in many ways, favorites of the Kinsale Gin team include the classic G&T (especially Poachers Tonic with a slice of orange or Fevertree elderflower tonic with a twist of lime and a mint leaf). The hedgerow forager favours their Kinsale Gin with raspberry and thyme shrub (a vinegar not a plant!), a little ice cold water and some frozen raspberries, served in a classic martini glass if you please! Kinsale Spirit Company characterises what is best about Kinsale, one of Ireland’s most vibrant and beautiful coastal towns. A working port, renowned for its food, drink and active leisure pursuits, Kinsale has a proactivity and sense of community that inspires our products. Founder and resident of Kinsale, Tom O Riordan, drew on this to establish the Kinsale Spirit Company and begin work on our award-winning brands. He recruited his sister Clodagh, a qualified distiller, to assist and they went about foraging botanicals, sourcing exotic ingredients and after many iterations, came up with the multi award-winning recipe that is now Kinsale Gin. First sales were in mid-2017, with the 100,000th bottle sold early in 2021.
In partnership with two local food and beverage entrepreneurs, Ernest Cantillon and Colin Ross, Kinsale Spirit Company is now exporting its award-winning Kinsale Gin, along with Red Earl Blended, Great Earl Single Grain, Spanish Earl Single Malt, and the Wild Atlantic Irish Whiskeys (IPA and Rechar barrel finish) a smooth, mellow and complex range of Irish whiskeys.
