In the spirit of NORTHERN IRELAND

From vintage whiskey blends and traditional poitín to craft gins infused with foraged botanicals, we raise a glass to the burgeoning drinks scene of Northern Ireland

Great taste relies on provenance, and the proof lies in Northern Ireland. Here, ingredients are nourished by lush green meadows, the purest of rivers and lakes and a rich coastline, with short, traceable supply chains allowing artisan businesses to work with the highest-quality ingredients, as nature intended. As with the Ulster fry, Atlantic oysters and soda bread, the same stands for Northern Ireland’s lauded spirit industry.

You’ll find a distillery or craft brewery – or both – in every city, town and village, from ancient establishments in vibrant Belfast to family-run newcomers in the Fermanagh Lakelands. The townsfolk of Bushmills, Co Antrim, have been perfecting the process of whiskey distillation for 400 years – the Old Bushmills Distillery is the world’s oldest and was, until recently, Northern Ireland’s only licensed location. Now, family-owned The Echlinville Distillery is paving the way in the whiskey renaissance, its super premium single malts and vintage blends boasting field-to-glass traceability; while Belfast Distillery Company has led the grand revival of the age-old McConnell’s Irish Whiskey after it ceased production in the 1930s. Discover its heritage on a walking tour of Belfast, stopping by iconic local jaunts for tastings of everything the region has to offer, plus cocktail demos to a live folk soundtrack. There’s opportunity aplenty for indulgence on the gin front too – Rademon Estate’s Shortcross craft gin, for example, was the first to be produced in Northern Ireland in over a century. With notes of juniper, mint and orange peel, it was worth the wait. In Co Down, Hinch Distillery marries Irish mythology with maritime history in award-winning Ninth Wave Irish Gin; nearby Copeland Distillery creates natural, fruit-infused gins and poitín – one of the strongest spirits on the market, similar to vodka – in a converted cinema in Donaghadee; The Boatyard’s recipe features botanicals foraged in Co Fermanagh. And if you’re craving oat stout, sweet cider or classic Irish cream liqueur, you’ll be more than satisfied. Sublime flavour, after all, is owed to the balance between sustainability, innovation and expertise passed down for generations. Find out more on buynifood.com