NOffLA news

68 Food Focus

Blackwater partners with Barry & Fitzwilliam

When Blackwater Distillery launched its range of gins seven years ago, it was to immediate acclaim, winning numerous Irish and International awards.

With a recent brand refresh and a new partnership with Barry & Fitzwilliam, Blackwater is anticipating even more exciting times ahead.

The reputation and drive of Barry & Fitzwilliam is the perfect match for Blackwater’s passion for creating premium spirits, which can now be made available nationwide, in both the on and offtrade. It’s the next step towards Blackwater’s ambition to establish itself as a leading and dynamic producer of craft gins and spirits.

Now, represented by Barry & Fitzwilliam, Blackwater can introduce many more customers to its portfolio, which includes Blackwater No. 5, which won Best Irish London Dry Gin at the World Gin Awards and Blackwater Wexford Strawberry Gin which won Silver at the World Gin Awards and upcoming new vodka releases.

Stocked now in all multiples and independent off-licences (RRP: €32). For more information, visit www.blackwaterdistillery.ie.

Blackwater No. 5 won Best Irish London Dry Gin while Blackwater Wexford Strawberry Gin won Silver at the World Gin Awards

Corona Ligera is the brand’s new light option with same distinct taste

Corona Ligera offers enhanced refreshment from the world’s most popular beer. It is brewed to be lighter, so fans can enjoy an ultra-refreshing beer with the same distinct, crisp taste of Corona. At 3.4% ABV and 103 calories per 355ml bottle, it is always best served cold and with a wedge of lime.

Brewed to be lighter, Corona Ligera is an ultrarefreshing choice

Comans now representing tito’s handmade Vodka

Tito’s Handmade Vodka is America’s original craft vodka. In 1995, sixth-generation Texan Bert “Tito” Beveridge obtained the first legal permit to distill in Texas and created Tito’s Handmade Vodka on a plot of land in rural Austin, Texas. Here, he built a small shack, rigged a pot still with spare parts and batch distilled his corn-based, naturally gluten-free vodka. Today, Tito’s Handmade Vodka is available in over 140 markets including the Americas, Europe, Asia, Australia, and the Middle East, and is distilled and bottled by Fifth Generation Inc. in Austin, on the very same land where the whole venture started. Tito’s is also highly committed to community causes, charitable organisations, and disaster relief efforts across the world, through the brand’s ‘Love, Tito’s’ initiatives, especially pet welfare efforts. In Ireland, Tito’s is represented by Comans Beverages Ltd.

powerscourt Distillery unveils ‘Fercullen Falls’ small Batch irish Whiskey

Fercullen Falls is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys, with a high malt content highlighting the unique style of the Powerscourt Distillery. A 50/50 blend, the malt whiskey has matured in first fill ex-bourbon barrels and the grain in a combination of ex-bourbon and new heavy char oak casks.

“With this release, The Powerscourt Distillery is heralding the start of a new era for the distillery, with the inclusion of malt whiskey distilled at Powerscourt,” said John Cashman, head of whiskey.

“As a proud Wicklow man, it is wonderful to be part of the first (legal) whiskey distilled in Wicklow in over a hundred years,” he continued. “The team has worked very hard to develop and deliver Fercullen Falls Blended Irish Whiskey and we are very pleased with the results.”

“The 50% malt content in the blend adds to the complexity and depth of flavour which is very different to what other blended Irish whiskeys are offering,” added Paul Corbett, head distiller and blender.

Drawing on its unique location, the name refers to the Powerscourt waterfall, Ireland’s highest waterfall at 121 metres, and with its contemporary design, evokes thoughts of whiskey falling into a glass and shared amongst friends.

For trade enquiries, contact Trade@Powerscourtdistillery.com.

Celebrating the launch of Powerscourt Distillery’s new Fercullen Falls Whiskey are the management team (L-R): head distiller and blender Paul Corbett; general manager Roger Dugan; head of marketing Caroline Gardiner; head of whiskey John Cashman; international sales manager Ryan Stapleton and COO and co-founder Gerry Ginty Fercullen Falls appeals to a new generation who are seeking quality not quantity

2022 Borsa Vini Italia to be held on 8 November

On Tuesday, 8 November, 2022 from 12.00-18.00 in the Hyatt Centric, Dean Street, The Liberties, Dublin, D08 W3X7, representatives from 25 wineries arrive in Ireland to take part in the 2022 Borsa Vini Italia. The event will showcase an impressive line-up of wines with producers travelling from Abruzzo, Emilia Romagna, Lazio, Lombardy, Marche, Piemonte, Puglia, Sicilia, Toscana and Veneto. All are seeking representation on this market.

The concept behind Borsa Vini Italia is that of a wine exchange whereby owners and winemakers will present their wines to the Irish trade who will be able to meet with winery personnel directly. “Our focus will be to connect key businesses from Italy and Ireland, in a forum that is specifically aimed at importers, independents and restaurant trade,” said Antonietta Kelly of the Italian Trade Commission.

The 2021 Wine Market Report published by Drinks Ireland Wine in August, shows wine consumption per capita in Ireland was 2.8 litres and total case sales were to 8.8 million. Italy retained its position as the fifth most popular country of origin with 10% of the Irish market with sales of Italian wine totalling 875,755 cases. To register, contact Mary Patricia Gallagher of Gallagher & Associates on 087 2461393 or email mp@gallagher-assoc.com. London: Antonietta Kelly, trade analyst, Italian Trade Agency: T: +44 20 7292 3913 E: a.kelly@ice.it

Continued success for award-winning Rye River Brewing Company

Rye River Brewing Company based in Celbridge, Co. Kildare is one of Ireland’s leading independent craft breweries. Established in 2013, Rye River Brewing Company has become Ireland’s number one retail craft brewery*. Its commitment to quality and consistency is apparent, having been named the World’s Most Decorated Brewery at the prestigious World Beer Awards for the third consecutive year in a row.

Brewing 24/7 on a small 2500 L brewhouse, Rye River Brewing Company mashes in up to 40 brews each week which contributes to its 30 unique recipes across five brands, utilising a unique brewing process with an on-site reverse osmosis purification system.

This year saw the brewery go back to the source with a renewed focus on the company’s origins along the banks of the Rye River. The popular McGargles range can now be found under the breweryled Rye River Brewing Company brand which features an origami Kingfisher on its logo, a nod to its continued pursuit of brewing perfection. It’s the same great beer but now with a great new look.

To learn more about the full nationwide range, visit www.ryeriverbrewingco.com. ■