The Boatyard Distillery: Crafting Liquid Elegance on the Shores of Lough Erne

Nestled on the serene banks of Lough Erne in Northern Ireland lies a quiet gem of the spiritual realm - The Boatyard Distillery. The magical distillery is not only a place where spirits are crafted, but more of a crafty temple, an inventive laboratory, and a spiritual site of their love for great #gin. Arrive at The Boatyard Distillery and you will feel like you have stepped back in time, venturing out on a journey of the pallet where each bottle you see tells its own story of craft and determination.

A Peek into History and Heritage

The Boatyard Distillery is therefore a marvel of sophistication, haunting among moments of tranquility and an understanding of sorts. The distillery is beautifully located in the ruins of an old boathouse, a testament to the creativity and practicality of its founder. The dramatic scenery of Lough Erne will greet you long before you arrive at the distillery, hinting at an experience outside the ordinary.

The Birth of a Vision

The tale of The Boatyard Distillery begins with a man, Joe McGirr, by name, whose passion for #gin was matched only by his vision to return that tradition of creating true gin, to an era of veracity, traceability and honesty. When Joe wrote this mission, he was inspired by the idea of a distillery that could make great gin without leaving a scar on the exclusive and historical environment from which it came. This quest evolved into The Boatyard Distillery and the journey to make a new mark on the land of spirit craft was underway.

Distillation: Where Science Meets Craft Art

Distillers are not just engineers, but they are true artists hand selecting and blending ingredients that will shout their closest land, to make one-of-a-kind gins you rarely find. No stone is left unturned as every stage of the distillation is hand-crafted, ensuring a perfectly distilled, hand-distilled bottle of #gin.

The Gin-Making Process

This is a remarkable ride for a signature gin and it kicks off at the outset with definitely some of the best botanicals out there. Our Heart of Australia theme is alive in the way that we approach juniper berries, coriander seeds and citrus peels, together with a selection of other botanicals to favorite producers of each botanical. Suki then gets down to business, procuring new Fountain-of-Youth clean Lake Erne rainwater and bonding it up a "base" with the locally available, botanically-infused vodka, cleanliness met by cleanliness.

Distillation is a science and an art in its own right. The botanicals infuse flavor into the base spirit as if they are one. The mash is then distilled, twice, on a beautiful copper pot still of the old-fashioned variety. Sloth gin is made from a base of raw potato and white molasses, this gives the gin the mouthfeel of the sloth with all of the botanical character in every droplet of gin, and it is copper pot distilled.

Favorite Gin: Signature Boatyard Double Gin

The Boatyard Double Gin is what The Boatyard Distillery distilled as their true calling card and gives us the skeleton key to how seriously they take spirits-making. Because the spirit is also double-distilled, essentially making the smoother, richer character twice as nice. Building an all-out, rowdy but coherent, multi-flavored gin, which surprises you with another tone with every sip.

At first sip, you are greeted with the familiar juniper wallop on the palate but in seconds this is rounded off by a citrus zephyr and chased by a cheeky warm hint of spice. Flavors are rich and balanced, a masterpiece of a spirit - a craft distilled spirit from a producer who knows how to lay it down.

Sourcing Ethically and Sustainability

At The Boatyard Distillery, everything from the botanicals in its produced gin to the packaging of the bottles is sustainably sourced. The distillery also makes a point of collaborating with suppliers to ensure the ingredients they source are grown and harvested responsibly and help sustain local communities.

The Boatyard Distillery not only delivers, as mentioned, a 100% non-GMO and sustainably farmed spirit, but they do so at a not inconsequential cost- approximately twice as long as a traditional pot still-to the point where they have planted approximately 30 acres of their own wheat and rye at "Boatyard Farm" adjacent to the distillery. The distillery uses energy-efficient kits and recycles waste products to ensure its manufacturing process is as green as possible. This focus on sustainability can be seen in all aspects of how the distillery does things - from the raw materials it sources to make its spirits and the bottles it bottles them in.

Guided Tours and Tastings

The Boatyard Distillery is not just a gin distillery - it offers fully guided tours to give you an insight behind the scenes on the distillation process. Throughout the tour you will learn about the history of the distillery and the craft of gin making, and taste what else is so unique about the botanicals they work with.

All visitors get to try in gins that are essential showcases for the distillery's dedication to detail. All in the Drake gins also offer an array of tastes for a full-bodied drink From the bold and robust Boatyard Double Gin to the light and fragrant Old Tom Gin, the Drake collection has a gin for everyone. Each sip is an awakening, each guzzle is a tribute to the diligence and honor in each glass.

Collaborations and Special Events

The Boatyard Distillery will also function as a venue for special events and collaborations, ensuring guests leave with a genuine experience from their visit. Whether it be a series of gin-themed suppers, cocktail masterclasses, or an evening of collaboration with a local artist, every month brings something new to our distillery. The whole experience adds an extra layer to the distillery tour, fusing spirits with culture in an increasingly exciting cocktail.

Conclusion: Operating in the Spirit of Excellence

It is clear that Boatyard Distillery is not only a gin but the dark spirits renaissance, a testament to both craft and innovation. It is, quite literally, the very intersection between history and craft, where history itself is bottled and the guest is invited into a realm of flavor and tale and tradition.

Whether you are a spirits enthusiast, a history lover, or just want a fun and delicious day out, The Boatyard Distillery has got you covered. A credit to open-ended exploration, a dual-historical ride that will require a spin more than once.

When you raise your Boatyard Double Gin to clink glasses, you are not just drinking a gin, you are joining in a tradition of uncompromising high standards, a little in the way of innovation and toasting to the enduring spirit of The Boatyard Distillery.

#craftgin #distillerytour #sustainable #northernireland