Irish Gins – Unique Botanicals and Coastal Flavours

Irish gins might have been overshadowed by Scottish and English gins, but the Irish do have their fair share of juniper spirits available. Ireland had only four gin distilleries four years ago, but today the number has increased to 18, with a further 16 already planned. Overall, there are more than 30 gin brands available and the number is expected to increase very rapidly.

Many Irish gins use local botanicals and you can really taste the coastal locations of these distilleries. I have listed some interesting Irish gins below. Which ones have you tried?

Glendalough Wild Botanical Gin, 70cl, £33.54 (41%)

Glendalough has released seasonal gins, but their juniper-forward Wild Botanical Gin is one for all seasons. They use freshly picked botanicals from the Wicklow Mountains.

Dingle Original Gin, 70cl, £31.52 (42.5%)

Made with local botanicals such as rowan berries, bog myrtle, hawthorn and heather. Described as juicy and floral with fresh herbal notes similar to mint and fennel.

Míl Gin, 70cl, £34.52 (42%)

Botanicals include Mediterranean flavours such as olive, thyme, rosemary, basil, bergamot, almond, gooseberry, juniper and more. Sweet and earthy.

Galway Gin, 70cl, £33.97 (42%)

This gin has a savoury coastal flavour to it from dillisk, a type of seaweed from Galway Bay. You can also taste the juniper, cardamom and lemon.

Old Carrick Mill Gin, 70cl, £32.99 (40%)

You want to try this gin if you like it fruity. Botanicals include cucumber, pear, juniper and more.

The Muff Liquor Company Gin, 70cl, £35.53 (40%)

This juniper-forward gin is made with potatoes. It has nine botanicals, such as rosemary, elderflower, mandarin and Champagne essence. Muff Liquor Company Gin is citrusy and slightly spicy.

Beara Ocean Gin, 70cl, £32.02 (43.3%)

The clue is in the name. Beara Ocean Gin is made with sugar kelp and infused with salt water. Expect coastal notes with liquorice and citrus.

An Dúlamán Maritime Gin, 50cl, £30.45 (43.2%)

This gin has a strong coastal influence, having five different varieties of seaweed, which are all locally harvested. The seaweed and six other botanicals create a savoury gin. You can taste the seaweed, but it is not over the top and gives room to other notes, such as juniper, citrus and roasted chestnuts.

Bertha’s Revenge Irish Milk Gin, 70cl, £38.58 (42%)

Named after the oldest cow in the world – Bertha was 48 years old when she died in 1993. This gin uses whey from Irish dairies as its base. I’m loving the botanicals in this one. The list includes juniper, coriander, bitter orange, almonds, cinnamon, cardamom, sweet orange, grapefruit, lime, cloves, elderflower and more. The gin is spicy, but also nice and creamy with citrus notes.

Mór Irish Gin, 70cl, £35.58 (40%)

Berries are shining in this gin, as it is made with juniper berries, blackberries, cranberries and raspberries, together with angelica, rosemary and coriander. Expect earthiness balanced with juicy berry notes.

Echlinville Single Estate Irish Pot Still Gin, 50cl, £38.82 (46%)

Made with barley grown and floor-malted by the Echlinville distillery. The botanicals include sweet kelp, gorse flower petals, lavender, anise, coriander and juniper. The gin is sweet and herbal with seaweed notes.

Ha’penny Irish Gin, 70cl, £32.72 (41%)

Taking inspiration from the walled garden in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, they have selected 13 botanicals, such as geranium, blackberry and lavender.

The Exiles Irish Gin, 70cl, £38 (41.3%)

Claims to be the only gin in the world made using shamrock as a botanical!

Drumshanbo Gunpowder Gin, 50cl, £32.77 (43%)

This Irish gin is distilled at The Shed Distillery (which also makes whiskey) with juniper, angelica, orris, caraway, coriander, cardamom, star anise and meadowsweet, together with vapour-infused lemon and lime, fresh grapefruit and gunpowder tea. These botanicals really complement each other, and the gin has lovely citrus notes together with green tea and spices. The bottle is also very beautiful!

Have you tried any Irish Gins? Do you like the coastal flavours?

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