New strategy to boost Irish gin exports launched in Belfast

Drinks Ireland has launched an-island gin strategy in Belfast to revive Ireland’s love affair with the spirit.

Close to 40 distilleries producing gin on the island represents a category expansion of 184% between 2014 and 2020 but Covid-19 dealt a blow to many of the high end producers.

While the closure of bars during lockdown one saw alcohol sales at supermarkets and off licences  rocket, many of the more premium local brands which typically rely on hospitality settings didn’t fare so well.

In fact 2020 became the first year in which Irish gin sales actually fell.

With people returning to hospitality on both sides pf the border following the lifting of government restrictions, Drinks Ireland visited Belfast on Thursday to present its vision for the sector over the next four years.

The Irish Gin Strategy 2022-2026 includes measures to promote world-leading standards for quality and authenticity, develop the domestic market, promote Irish gin worldwide and support the viability of Irish gin distilleries.

There are now at least 37 distilleries producing Irish gin on the island of Ireland, eight of those in the north,, and over 70 brands.

“The Irish Gin sector has grown extremely quickly in recent years, driven by innovative and ambitious producers and brand owners, dedicated to creating quality and authentic products,” said David Boyd-Armstrong, Chairman of the Drinks Ireland|Spirits’ Irish Gin working group, and Joint Founder and Head Distiller of Rademon Estate Distillery, which creates Shortcross Gin.

“Our strategy will enable the industry to take advantage of the opportunities in the domestic and international market and face the various challenges ahead.

“We will be working to seek the introduction of rules covering the marketing and labelling of Irish gin in Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK to ensure consumers know what they are buying,” he added.

Currently, Ireland is the dominant market for Irish gin, but the new strategy will have a major focus on export growth – earmarking the UK, USA, Germany, Canada, China and other Asian  territories.

Vincent McGovern, Director of Drinks Ireland|Spirits said: “Irish gin has been a true national success story in recent years. Our members employ dozens of people across both urban and rural Ireland producing this much-loved spirit and exporting to markets across the globe.”