Everything about this gin is well and truly meant to get under your ‘skin.’ Booming minty tones & coriander give way to fresh citrus 42% Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. A cloud of strawberry cotton candy sweetness, balanced with earthy juniper, delicate rose and angelica finish. 43%

Yarra Valley Shiraz grapes are steeped in high proof rare gin for 8 weeks to produce this sweet spirit with notes of juniper & spice. 37.8% Allegedly named after Mr Copperhead, an alchemist searching for the elixir of life, who came up with this gin along the way Sweet & citrusy with a slight cardamom influence. 40% Light & exceptionally smooth gin, with elegant aromas of earthy juniper, fresh citrus peel and garden herbs. 42%

Botanicals from Réunion Island bring tropical notes of pineapple & mango, complementing peppery spice. 43% The one that got away! After trying 8 out of these 9 gins I didn’t manage to complete my taste tour of Northern Irish Gin by finding any Belfast Artisan Gin. Fresh and tasty, with notes of sweet fruits and herbaceous hints of rhubarb, rosemary and sage. 40%

A refreshing, sweet, grassy expression from The Kyoto Distillery, featuring a blend of teas including Tencha & Gyokuro. 45.1% Time to feel the heat with our red-hot potent chilli gin An aggressive infusion of Caribbean Scotch bonnets, balanced with fresh raspberries and juicy mango. 43% Echlinville’s state-of-the-art stillhouse stands proudly alongside the 19th century Echlinville Manor House, former seat of the Echlins who were once among the most influential families in Ireland. With sage as a signature botanical, layers of sweet & dry citrus are present with a long, savoury finish. 43% Fragrant with soft honey undertones leading to lemongrass, a touch of liquorice and a dry tannic finish. 43%

Cocktails Made Easy

We head a bit south to Co.Tyrone for the next Northern Irish gin on the list. Symphonia Gin is from the Woodlab Distillery in Benburb. I first had Symphonia No.1 Gin a few months ago on the recommendation of a family member, with a gift set having been sent across to me in Scotland after they’d tasted it in their local shop. That gift set contained the three gins from the Symphonia Gin range:

To taste, I found it had quite an earthy quality that certainly revealed the juniper. There was also that lime coming through and I thought a bit of pepper too. I had the sum total of two G&Ts with this gin though, so I can’t say that this was the most thorough review I’ve ever undertaken! It did however, come across as a nicely rounded gin and one that’s worth seeking out if you can find it. Belfast Artisan Gin Clean and well balanced, combining strawberries and raspberries with a touch of red hibiscus flowers. 40% Notes of floral lime citrus and savoury undertone on the pallet, balanced and smooth with warming spice and subtle heat on the finish. 41%Why did I get it so wrong? Well, on first taste, I thought it was quite heavy on – what I thought was – fennel (which I don’t really like). Now, I’ve no idea if there is actually fennel present, but didn’t get anything like that the second time around or subsequently. I now suspect that my first taste may have been tainted by the tonic that my first drink was served with (in a Belfast restaurant). Always use a good tonic…

Named after Bertha, a cow who lived to the age of 48, this whey alcohol-based gin is smooth & spicy with sweet orange notes. 42% Awarded World’s Best Gin 2019 at the World Gin Awards, sweet & juicy with notes of red berry & a hint of mint & fennel. 42.5% Juniper led, with zesty citrus touch of lemon and coriander and a sweet finish of refreshing watermelon. 37.5%

Matt D’Arcy 10 Year Old Gift Box

Intriguing botanicals such as Colombian cocoa beans, Piedmonte hazelnuts, Avola almonds, vanilla pods and chillies produce a creamy & vanilla forward taste with undertones of dark chocolate. 44%