Bespoke gin making is the area’s latest visitor attraction
HUBERT MURPHY PAYS A VISIT TO A UNIQUE NEW LOCAL VISITOR ATTRACTION
F ROM the hills of Cooley to the noble estate in Slane, from Stameen’s crisp cider and a touch of Jack Cody’s best, the Louth/Meath region lacks nothing in enterprise when it comes to producing top notch whiskey and beer.
Yes, Listoke Estate is a long way from the size of the magnificent Boann Distillery, just outside Drogheda, but what it lacks in bulk, it makes up for in charm and uniqueness.
Surely there are not too many places offering the experience that you come across once you pass that threshold into a world of wonder, just off the Ballymakenny Road.
The location is home to the Listoke Distillery and Gin School.
Founded last year, the Gin School has attracted attention from around the world, with visitors jetting in from USA, France, New Zealand, Australia and all places from Belfast to Dundalk, Ardee to Bettystown.
A couple of hours in Listoke passes very quickly as you learn the art of creating your very own label - your unique blend that creates a bottle of gin which you can bring home and enjoy.
All the ingredients are there and for those without a clue about what gin is - you get a quick and easy lesson.
Juniper is the main ingredient and after that you add in the likes of orris root, angelica, cinnamon, orange or lemon, saffron, coriander...the list goes on and on.
The botanics are found in the spacious gardens of Listoke, so this is certainly a home grown industry in every sense of the word.
Those behind the project do a lot of the work by hand, producing a craft gin can be sore on the hands when there’s a rush on labels to be added to what appears to be an endless amount of bottles. ‘Christmas was busy,’ Juliet Gogan reveals. Indeed, when every bottle of gin is sealed and packed, Juliet is continuing a way of life that has existed in her family for generations.
Her Great Great Great grandparents were John Jameson and Margaret Haig - both from the famed brewing families, who married in 1768.
Later, the Woolsey and Cairnes families would marry into the dynasty, so when Juliet and husband Raymond set up operations at Listoke Distillery, they had a certain pedigree in their stable to make this work.
The distillery can produce 1,000 bottles a day of Listoke 1777 Gin, using crystal clear well water located nearby.
To add to the experience, they host tours and also the Gin School. It takes 12 willing participants at a time and has been an extraordinary success.
Hen nights prove very popular, as well as corporate team bonding.
To finish off, there’s pizza from the stone clad oven close by.
The Gin School is open for enquiries by contacting Bronagh at 087 240 5283 or emailing hello@listokedistillery.ie.