Cape Clear Island Distillery, Ireland’s newest and only offshore Island distillery confirmed its first distillations last week with the first bottles of gin produced on Thursday 7th November last.
Its been a turbulent few months for the new operation which has significant local support on this small Gaeltacht Community at Ireland most southwestern extreme. Funded mostly by private local investors with Údaras na Gaeltachta support the distillery is based in a seashore premises formerly used as a hatchery. With planning permission already in place for a full-scale whiskey distillery, this is the first step in an ambitious plan to develop the unique coastal site on a phased basis.
With so many gins currently on the market, an enormous effort has been expended to develop a quality gin that truly reflects the maritime nature of the Island and its landscape. It took a team of local enthusiasts working with new product developer and distiller Ruth Court over 6 months to finally achieve a distinctive recipe that all are genuinely very proud off. The ingredients include laminaria digitata, fuschia and honeysuckle and the result is described as a classic, bracing and full flavoured gin with the fresh hand foraged botanicals complimenting but not overpowering the juniper base.
"The first 1,000 bottles are being produced under a unique label, marked 1 to 1,000"
The first 1,000 bottles are being produced under a unique label, marked 1 to 1,000. The distinctive 3 Sq, Miles brand was developed by Terry Green of www.terrygreendesign.com to reflect the surrounding seascape.
Cape Clear Distillery will shortly reopen to investors for subsequent phases and also offers an innovative €100 5% preference share orientated towards ‘fun’ investors. These will, for the most part, be redeemed against products from the company and are described as ‘super gift vouchers’ that appreciate in value the longer they are held. The company also markets distinctive glassware and other products.