Campaign Trail

8 Hinch wins Double Gold, Gold and Silver for whiskeys

3 CWSA medals for Hinch

Alongside winning the highest accolade for its Ninth Wave gin at the China Wine and Spirit Awards NI’s Hinch Distillery took away three other distinguished titles for its range of Irish whiskies recently including Double Gold for its 10 Year-Old beckoning award applications from some Sherry Finish, Gold for its Five Year-Old of the world’s most celebrated brands. Double Wood and Silver for its Peated “The Chinese wine and spirits market Single Malt. has grown massively in recent years

Samples from Hinch Distillery and with China’s economy growing on underwent the unique ‘CWSA Triple average 7-8% each year, it shows no Blind Tasting Method’ that the CWSA signs of slowing down any time soon,” organisation has fine-tuned over 20 explained Hinch Distillery’s Chairman Dr seasons and for which it is highly Terry Cross OBE. regarded. To date distributors have been signed-

It’s known as one of the strictest up in over half of Hinch’s target countries blind-tasting standards in the sector, including China, Taiwan, Hong Kong,

Canada, the US, Japan, Russia, Poland, Czech Republic, Belgium, Holland, Spain, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Ireland.

The distillery, which distils at its site just outside Belfast, is set to officially open this month with public tours due in 2021.

Both the distillery and visitor centre are located between Ballynahinch and Belfast.

For more information on Hinch Distillery log onto https://

hinchdistillery.com or follow us on https://twitter.com/hinchdistillery

8 New Orange variant in response to consumer demand

Martini Fiero - significant early signs of success with Irish consumers Martini Fiero has already shown significant early signs of success with Irish

Martini vermouth has launched a specifically with tonic water. consumers. new Orange variant, Martini Fiero, in response to consumer demands for bold-flavoured, brightly coloured drinks. ‘Fiero’ means ‘proud’, ‘intense’ and ‘bold’ in Italian, reflecting the flavourful character of this particular vermouth. At 14.9% ABV it’s made by blending white wines, Spanish Oranges grown in Murcia and botanicals Artemisia Absinthium and Artemisia Pontica. The drink’s zesty bittersweet Orange The 50/50 serve answers a growing consumer appetite for longer, more refreshing ways to enjoy vermouth as part of the modern Aperitivo occasion. Martini Master Blender Beppe Musso added, “We also worked hard to ensure the intense flavours of our white wine and citrus core would come through when the A modern vermouth with a distinctive bittersweet Orange flavour that comes to life when paired with tonic, Martini Fiero has already shown significant early signs of success with Irish consumers as the brand taps into new consumer occasions and trends. flavour has been crafted to pair tonic is added”.

8 AM Design can help restore character to existing licensed premises with comfort and atmosphere in mind

Retain the best with AM Design

With the need for pubs to diversify their today’s market. offering, many licensed premises have “We’re encouraged by the success stores and back yards ideally suited for of many of our projects that took that rejuvenation leading to complementary little extra effort and bit of ingenuity,” related businesses in the tourism sector, she continued, “The benefits can last for commercial use or as office space. for years and reflect well on an annual

“Unlock their potential,” urges Angie turnover. Murphy, Founder of AM Design, “Retaining the best of our old “Adapting and developing new areas buildings, has huge benefits. in our older buildings with recent TV behind old traditional worn front bars is “Knocking buildings unnecessarily restoration programmes.” a key element to the continued success because they don’t fit into a pricing AM Design can help restore character to of many town and country pubs. category is so often regrettable; an existing licensed premises with comfort

“Often spaces can benefit from a with it goes the future benefits of its and atmosphere in mind, she says. replan. Sprawling extensions can be character. We delve deeper and come For more information contact: re-imagined for functions, dining or music up with ways of retaining and exposing AM Design or opened as outdoor areas,” she added. the character of old buildings in a new W: www.amdesign.ie

“Often an existing furniture layout and sustainable way. E: info@amdesign.ie can be redesigned to function better in “It’s refreshing to see the interest T: +353 1 286 4135

8 Dublin Northside brewery becomes latest Guaranteed Irish member Guaranteed Irish for Hope Beer

Hope Beer has gained the Guaranteed Irish membership symbol.

Founded in 2015 Hope Beer brews a range of premium craft beers and became a Guaranteed Irish member following approval by the organisation’s appraising committee.

Guaranteed Irish, a not-for-profit organisation, represents over 1,200 home-grown and international businesses operating in Ireland and has been promoting business here since 1974.

“Being part of such an established Pubs, the lifeblood of many communities across Ireland, should not become political footballs in the fight against Covid-19 and should be allowed stay open as Ireland learns to live with Covid-19 over the coming weeks and months, believes Drinks Ireland.

The ibec body recently launched a new campaign, #OpeningTime, supported by the Licensed Vintners Association and the Vintners Federation of Ireland, calling on the Government to ensure that ‘wet’ pubs are allowed re-open in a safe and sustainable manner in order to preserve jobs, local economies and “these vital social outlets in the community which have been closed for over six months”.

It’s estimated that before the shortlived 21st of September reopening of wet pubs outside the capital, 3,500 pubs across Ireland had remained closed, 60% of all pubs. And with these pubs having had to close again, the sector cannot afford any further false starts, pointed out Drinks Ireland.

#OpeningTime

The #OpeningTime campaign was activated across social media and highlights how pubs are regulated environments and responsible businesses. It illustrates how they play their part in maintaining strict Covid-19 measures as had already been seen in the vast majority of food pubs that had opened prior to Level Three.

The campaign also emphasises the huge investment, time and effort that goes into re-opening pubs by both the publicans and the drinks suppliers.

Brewing is a costly and timeconsuming process and suppliers had started to work with publicans all over the country to supply product for the re-opening, delivering kegs ahead of the last September 21st date.

Drinks suppliers also worked with pubs to clean beer lines in advance of re-opening.

The campaign also emphasises how the safe and sustainable reopening of pubs is important not only for publicans and the drinks industry but for Ireland’s economy.

Ireland’s hospitality industry purchases approximately €1 billion from domestic food and drink suppliers every year and is vital for providing employment opportunities for young people as well as regional and rural development. It can play a crucial role in the economic

From left: Des McSwiggan, Co-Founder & Head of Sales at Hope Beer, with Wim De Jongh, Co-Founder & Managing Director.

and well-respected organisation that champions Irish businesses and jobs is important to us,” said the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Hope Wim De Jongh, “More than ever it’s important to local communities and to the National Economy that people continue to shop and buy local.”

Hope Beer brews a range of premium craft beers, canned, bottled and kegged at Howth Junction in

8 Drinks suppliers and publicans launch #OpeningTime campaign

Drinks Ireland launches #Openingtime campaign

Pubs should not become political footballs in the coming months as the country learns to live with Covid-19, believes Padraig Cribben.

North Dublin. recovery from Covid-19 as it did during the recovery from the last economic crisis, when it accounted for one in every seven jobs created.

“While managing Covid-19 and people’s health should continue to be a top priority, we must be able to do this in a way that does not decimate an entire industry and allows the economy to function alongside Covid-19,” said Drinks Industry Ireland Director Patricia Callan, who called on the Government to avoid this ‘stop and start’ approach to reopening pubs, “This would be bad for businesses and also bad for our economy and society.

“As a result of previous ‘false starts’ beer was brewed and delivered, beer lines were cleaned and subsequently breweries had to do a massive keg uplift as the pubs then couldn’t re-open.”

LVA Chief Executive Donall O’Keeffe added, “It’s time for a safe and sustainable #OpeningTime. Where outbreaks do occur, in pubs or indeed other businesses, they should be managed as opposed to resulting in any blanket decisions to shut down an industry”.

VFI Chief Executive Padraig Cribben agreed, stating, “They should not become political footballs in the coming months as the country learns to live with Covid-19. These businesses are vital from an employment and economic pointof-view and also as a social outlet for people across the country. This is particularly true in rural Ireland.” n