The art of gin

 

Dingle Distillery, the family run independent spirits producer on Ireland’s Dingle Peninsula has  announced a completely redesigned bottle for Dingle Gin, its most significant evolution since the   distillery first opened its doors in 2012. It also introduces a new look for   Dingle Vodka and marks the launch of Dingle Gin Orange & Sea Salt, the distillery’s first major new gin expression in years.

For over a decade, the original Dingle Gin bottle has been an  instantly recognisable fixture on back bars and shop shelves worldwide. As the distillery has grown from a bold independent start up into one of Ireland’s most respected premium spirits producers, including winning the title of World’s Best Gin at the 2019 World Gin Awards, the family felt  the bottle needed to catch up.

One thing hasn’t changed: the liquid inside. Handcrafted using  the same local Dingle Peninsula botanicals, including rowan berry, angelica root, hawthorn and heather,  first discovered while driving the wild Slea Head loop around the tip of the peninsula, it remains exactly as it  always was.

The new design simply gives it the outside to match. Drawing inspiration from the rugged Atlantic landscape and contemporary spirit of the Dingle Peninsula, the redesign retains the  recognisable character of the original  while bringing a more refined and  confident identity to the range.

“Thirteen years ago we launched  a gin and put it in a bottle that became part of who we are. As the distillery evolved, we felt the bottle  should evolve with it. The liquid hasn’t  changed, it’s still the same Irish spirit  people know and love globally, but now the design better reflects the quality, character, and place behind it,” says Elliot Hughes, managing   director and son of the distillery’s founder.

To mark the occasion, the distillery is also launching Dingle Gin Orange   & Sea Salt, a vibrant new expression inspired by the rugged beauty of the Kerry coastline and built on the same award-winning botanical recipe. The result is a gin with vibrant natural citrus and delicate floral notes, balanced by a clean, crisp finish and   subtle coastal salinity. Best served with premium tonic, ice, a slice of   burnt orange, and a sprig of rosemary.

A gin made for martinis 

Boatyard Distillery’s flagship Double Gin was crafted with one serve firmly   in mind – the perfect Martini. Distilled using organic botanicals and a unique double-contact juniper method, it delivers an exceptionally smooth juniper-forward profile, balanced by bright citrus notes and delicate floral sweetness. Award-winning and bartender-approved, Boatyard Double Gin elevates every pour, bringing   balance, complexity, and unmistakable quality to every glass. Whether enjoyed in a classic Martini or your favourite gin serve, this is a gin made  to impress from the very first sip.

Made on the shores of Lough Erne, in the first B-Corp certified  distillery in Ireland, Boatyard is  committed to making spirits with integrity, sustainability and a true sense of place. The team work closely with local farmers, using organic ingredients wherever possible, and design their processes to reduce waste and impact on the environment. This ethos, combined with exceptional quality, has seen Boatyard collect  awards across many international spirits competitions – and, most  recently, major recognition in the Drinks International Brands Report  2026.

This year Boatyard was the only spirits brand made on the island of  Ireland to feature in the Bartenders’ Choice category, Bestselling Gin List, Top Trending Gin Category and the Top Trending Vodka category, for the brand’s best-selling Boatyard Vodka. With a strong presence across Ireland and the UK, the brand is also, through a strategic distribution   partnership with Banfi Vintners,   continuing to expand into the United   States, where the appetite for premium, independent spirits with provenance is stronger than ever. For more see www.boatyarddistillery.com

Opportunity above the clouds  

For Blood Monkey Irish Gin, travel   retail has become an important part  of its story. Earlier this year, the  brand moved to a direct relationship with Dublin Airport, giving it greater control over how Blood Monkey is   presented and activated. The result   has been 225% year-to-date growth.  As Dublin Airport enters its   busiest summer period, travel retail  offers a unique opportunity for Irish   spirits. It’s one of the few channels  where shoppers actively seek out something new – whether it’s a gift, a taste of Ireland or simply a bottle   they wouldn’t normally encounter at home. “For a lot of travellers, Dublin   Airport will be the first place they ever come across Blood Monkey,” said   founder Jason Kidd. “That’s a huge   opportunity for us to make a strong   first impression on people from all over the world and hopefully send   them home with a bottle in their bag.”   Blood Monkey has always been   about doing things differently.

In a category full of familiar stories, we’ve focused on creating a brand with personality – one that’s proudly Irish, unmistakably bold and memorable   long after the journey home. Blood Monkey’s performance in   Dublin Airport reinforces an important lesson: even in a challenging gin market, there are still opportunities for growth when brands find the right channels to tell their story.

The Gin that takes a year to make  

In an industry where efficiency is often celebrated, there is something quietly radical about slowing down. Gin has long been associated with   immediacy. Unlike whiskey, it requires no years of maturation and can move from still to bottle remarkably quickly. Yet Glendalough Distillery has built its flagship Wild Botanical Gin around a very different philosophy: letting  nature dictate the timeline. Glendalough’s Wild Botanical Gin takes a full year to produce. The result is a gin layered with bright citrus,  fresh pine, wild flowers, hedgerow fruits and warming spice, a flavour profile shaped as much by time as by ingredients. Internationally awarded and distinctly Irish, Glendalough Wild   Botanical Gin is proof that some things cannot be rushed.

Craftsmanship rooted in Kerry  

Skellig Six18 Gin exemplifies the attention to detail and commitment to quality that continues to define Ireland’s premium craft spirits sector. Every botanical is distilled separately through the distillery’s 500-litre copper still in Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry.  This allows each ingredient to develop its own distinct character before the blending process begins. Rather than rushing production, the individual   distillates are slowly married over  a six-week period, creating a gin of exceptional balance, depth and   consistency.  The Curious Journey   Cocktail CompetitionWine Enthusiast’s Spirit Brand of   the Year Winning Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin joins forces  again with twice World Champion Mixologist, Bruno Vanzan in “The Curious Journey Cocktail  Competition”.

Open to all bartenders/mixologists on the island of Ireland, the winner of the contest will receive, a two night trip to Milan to train with Bruno Vanzan himself at his prestigious Bar Academy, a year-long feature at the Honey Badger Bar at  The Shed Distillery of PJ Rigney in   Drumshanbo, and a €1,000 cash prize. Round 1 entries are open until midnight on 31 July. Further information can be found at www.   thesheddistillery.com/our-creations