Marketing

Hinch Distillery’s Eastern triumph

Hinch Distillery, just south of Belfast, has won the highest accolade for its Ninth Wave gin at the China Wine and Spirit Awards, alongside three other distinguished titles for its range of Irish whiskies, when it walked away with a globally-recognised Trophy for ‘Gin of the Year’. 
Dr Terry Cross OBE of Hinch Distillery, just south of Belfast, which won the ‘Gin of the Year’ Award for its Ninth Wave gin at the China Wine and Spirit Awards alongside three other distinguished titles for its range of Irish whiskies.

Dr Terry Cross OBE of Hinch Distillery, just south of Belfast, which won the ‘Gin of the Year’ Award for its Ninth Wave gin at the China Wine and Spirit Awards alongside three other distinguished titles for its range of Irish whiskies.

Recognition as a CWSA Trophy Winner is the highest honour in the biggest and most prestigious wine and spirits competition in Hong Kong and China, states Hinch.

It also received three other CWSA awards for its distinctive Irish whiskey range including a Double Gold for its Hinch 10 Year-Old Sherry Finish Irish whiskey, Gold for its Hinch Five Year-Old Double Wood and Silver for its Hinch Peated Single Malt.

Samples from Hinch Distillery underwent the unique ‘CWSA Triple Blind-Tasting Method’ fine-tuned by the CWSA organisation over 20 seasons and for which it’s highly regarded.

The method used does not allow judges to receive any information about the country of origin of the wine or spirit, nor does it allow any indication of the brand and forbids communication of findings among the judging panel.

It is known as one of the strictest blind-tasting standards in the sector.

The 2020 medals rack up a lengthy list of awards bestowed upon Hinch distillery in less than a year since its launch.

The awards follow on from over a dozen other wins in 2020 including Gold Medals for its Ninth Wave Gin brand at the World Gin Awards, Australian International Sprits Competition and the Canadian Alberta Beverage Awards, where it was again awarded the Best Gin in the whole competition – the first-ever non-Canadian gin to achieve this accolade.

The distillery, which distils at its site near Ballynahinch, is set to officially open next month with public tours due to launch in 2021.

“Taking our first-ever trophy at CWSA 2020 makes the team very proud and is a highlight for us during what is a very surreal year for the trade,” said Dr Terry Cross OBE, speaking about the latest trophy, “To win big during the current climate and at a competition that boasts one of the most stern blind-tasting formulas there is, means our products surpass quality tests.

“The Chinese wine and spirits market has grown massively in recent years and with China’s economy growing on average 7-8% each year, it shows no signs of slowing down any time soon.

“The awards also demonstrate that our hard work and technical knowledge is recognised at the highest level”.

Both Hinch Whiskey and Ninth Wave Gin are targeting the ever-growing number of consumers who’re attracted to premium spirits which deliver in both quality, taste and high-level brand values. These consumers are also attracted to brands which deliver authenticity in their story and a provenance which can only be delivered from distillation at a real working, craft distillery, he added.

To date distributors have been signed-up in over half Hinch’s target countries including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Canada, the US, Japan, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, the UK, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland.

The distillery and visitors centre, located between Ballynahinch and Belfast, are both nearing completion with much of the distilling equipment – including three hand-crafted copper whiskey stills and one gin still – already in situ.

 

 

 

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