Top 5 Gin Experiences in Northern Ireland!

This Saturday 10th June marks “World Gin Day” and we love any excuse to talk about GIN!

It’s quite possibly the Taste & Tour top tipple of choice so here’s some gin jibber-jabber to whet your appetite for the weekend!

BELFAST GIN JAUNT

A little vain, I know, but our Belfast Gin Jaunt has just turned 5 years old and we want to celebrate!

Our Gin Jaunt gives you a taste of all the best local (and international) gins rolled into one 3.5 hour gin and fun fuelled bonanza!

Starting in our favourite Victorian Gin Palace, we make our way around Belfast's top Gin Joints and finish in the bustling Cathedral Quarter where there are plenty of options for the next round… but after 7 gins with us, it might already be time for the bus home! Our expert guide, a self confessed “ginthusiast” leads your afternoon and will teach you all about gin, gin styles, garnishes, cocktails, distilling and the most incredible gins from this island which we are very proud to call our own! 

Consider it an afternoon of front row, reserved seats in the best bars with a group of like-minded gin obsessed strangers…who, undoubtedly by the end will be your new pals and you’ll be sharing a big ‘cheers’ with.

I could talk about the Gin Jaunt all day, but these recent Scottish guests made our Monday morning with this lovely email a few weeks ago -

“We went on the Gin Jaunt tour last Saturday. It was brilliant! Dave, our tour guide, was really knowledgeable and interesting - what a laugh we had! We met some amazing people on the tour too. Now to decide which gin to buy first… 

Thanks so much for fitting us in. It made our trip to Belfast!”

*mic drop*

Every Saturday, 1pm Belfast City Centre - Tickets Available HERE.

Private experiences for 12 + also available daily.

RADEMON ESTATE DISTILLERY

Proudly the first gin to be distilled in Northern Ireland, so no better place to start with our next recommendation. Shortcross Gin is the brainchild of husband and wife team, Fiona & David Boyd Armstrong and it’s distilled on their 500 acre family estate in Crossgar. The estate and distillery is about 13 miles south of Belfast.

They combine juniper and citrus with 4 botanicals foraged on the estate – wild clover, elderflower, elderberries and apples. Shortcross features on our Gin Jaunt and it’s a strong favourite amongst guests who enjoy a 5-star cocktail that pays homage to the bees who live happily on Rademon Estate.

Rademon Estate Distillery is open to visitors and has weekly distillery tours as well as an on site shop selling everything from their own gin, whiskey and poitin to branded glassware, candles and merch! We all love a bit of merch!

Check out their Tours and Experiences.

COPELAND DISTILLERY

From the shorelines of Donaghadee and named after the Copeland Islands which were used by Vikings as a trading post and in years gone by to smuggle spirits from Scotland into Ireland.

The Copeland Distillery story started in the summer of 2016, when they successfully raised £30,000 from crowdfunding which really shows the local appetite for rekindling the distilling heritage of these parts of the world!

As well as a few different styles of gin, the Copeland Distillery produces rum and single and pot still whiskey. When they aren’t busy distilling, they still have time to showcase their amazing story and products via their Distillery Tours.

THE ECHLINVILLE DISTILLERY

Echlinville Distillery is the home of Jawbox Gin amongst other spirits. Their products are considered “field to glass” as all of their distilled products start their life from the barley crops that are sown, grown, harvested and malted on their farm. Quite impressive if you ask us!

Jawbox, named after his granny’s kitchen sink, is the creation of Gerry White who used to be the manager of The John Hewitt. The famous Belfast Gin and Ginger serve features both on our Gin Jaunt and Belfast Food Tour as we love to tell Gerry’s story alongside the history of one of Belfast’s greatest inventions - ginger ale!

You can see for yourself as they offer Tours and Experiences at their distillery location in Kircubbin, Newtownards.

BOATYARD DISTILLERY

Last but not least and a force to be reckoned with… The Boatyard Distillery in Fermanagh.

Enniskillen is a beautiful place to visit, and Boatyard Distillery just has to be on your hit-list for your next trip.

The team at Boatyard welcome you with open arms as you find out all about how they make their multi-award winning gin and vodka under the shadow of their beautiful still and overlooking the stunning Lough Erne. The drinks included are delicious and you even get to label your very own bottle of Boatyard Gin to take home.

Check out their Tours and Experiences.

Ps If you want to feel really VIP get a lift with Barry from Erne Water Taxis.

Words by Nicola Johnston.