The Best Irish Gins

Ireland is in a Gin Revolution: There are now 68 Irish Gins, with sales of the drink trebling in only four years. Here we list our favourite Irish Gins, from all corners of the Emerald Isle.

1) Listoke 1777

As the biggest gin distillery in Ireland, it’s safe to say Listoke Distillery knows what they’re doing when it comes to gin. Their forefront product, Listoke 1777, is a small-batch Irish gin which offers a robust and well-rounded flavour that is neither too heavy nor too light, thus it is a versatile gin great for sipping or for use in cocktails. The forward juniper notes are balanced by lingering hints of citrus, cardamom, and rowan berries, which rest on the tongue while a faint whiff of jasmine blossom fills the nose. Besides their stellar commercial gin, if you’re the creative type, Listoke also offers a ‘Gin School’ where patrons can spend a day distilling their own personalized gin at Listoke Distillery.

 

For more information, visit https://listokedistillery.ie

 

2) Thin Gin

Thin Gin is a superbly flavourful and balanced dry Irish gin produced by Anchor Spirits in Waterford City. With its fresh citrus notes of orange, lemon and lime combined with the flavours of apple, hawthorn, elderflower and tansy, Thin Gin makes a crisp, refreshing addition to a G&T that’s especially pleasant during the summer months. Despite its citrusy flavour profile, Thin Gin is a full-bodied gin which holds its own against any mixer without tasting weak or watered-down. Thus, it’s the perfect choice for traditional, strong gin lovers looking to try something new.

 

For more information, visit http://www.thingin.ie

 

3) Chinnery Gin

Perhaps the most unique offering on this list is Chinnery Gin, a liquor inspired “by the Old China Trade” distilled right here in Ireland, in Dublin and Cork. What makes Chinnery Gin different is its unique set of tea-inspired botanicals, including Osmanthus flower, oolong tea, cassia bark, liquorice root, sweet orange peel, and grains of paradise. If you are a fan of herbal and tea flavours or just feel like trying a gin that’s off the beaten path, definitely give this one a go.

 

For more information, visit https://chinnerygin.com

 

4) Sling Shot Irish Gin

For anyone looking to branch out and explore new territories in the gin world, Lough Ree Distillery should certainly be on your radar. Their premier product, Sling Shot Irish Gin, features citrus and mint top notes cradled by the boldness of juniper and cardamom. What really sets this gin apart, however, is the inclusion of peat, as Lough Ree Distillery is the first distillery to ever use this ingredient as a botanical in gin. The peat adds a subtle, pleasant earthiness that you truly have to taste to appreciate.

 

For more information, visit https://www.lrd.ie/

 

5) Minke Gin

Clonakilty Distillery is a family-owned distillery located by the sea off the southern tip of Ireland. The company takes much inspiration from their seaside location, and this is evident in their gin, which is named Minke Gin after the minke whale. The maritime influences of this gin don’t just stop at the name, though, as one of the key botanicals present in the product is rock samphire- also known as sea fennel. Rock samphire gives the gin a distinct citrus flavour with bright aniseed notes that linger pleasantly on the palette, resulting in a light, versatile gin that’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.

 

For more information, visit https://www.clonakiltydistillery.ie

 

6) Shortcross Gin

Shortcross Gin prides itself on being the first Irish gin produced in Northern Ireland, and its undeniable they’ve set the bar high. From the rustic, hand-dipped bottle to the thoughtful selection of playful yet complementary botanicals, Shortcross Gin is an impressive Irish gin that should be on any gin-lover’s wish list. Rademon Estate Distillery, the producer of Shortcross, sets this gin apart by using copper stills in the production process. The copper interacts with the spirit during distillation to remove any harsh notes while producing a unique, balanced flavour profile. The end product is a gin with pleasantly smooth, sweet floral notes including those of elderberries, apple, wild clover, citrus, and cassia.

 

For more information, visit https://shortcrossgin.com

 

7) Conncullin Gin

Produced by The Connacht Whiskey Company in County Mayo, Conncullin Gin gets its name from the two lakes which supply water to the distillery- Lough Conn and Lough Cullin. This gin features forward berry notes, a refreshing twist on the traditional juniper and citrus that goes marvellously in a summer cocktail.

 

For more information, visit https://connachtwhiskey.com/ 

 

8) Dingle Gin

Dingle Gin should be no stranger to gin fans in Ireland. Produced by the multi award-winning Dingle Whiskey Distillery located in County Kerry, Dingle Gin is a mainstay on the shelves of many of Ireland’s most popular pubs, and accordingly proves that a great distillery can master more than just one type of liquor. Dingle Gin’s forefront botanical notes includes rowan berry, freesia, bog myrtle, hawthorn, and heather, and together these elements produce a pleasant, smooth gin with a soft, understated complexity. Dingle Gin is ideal for pairing with tonic, and for anyone looking for a solid, uncomplicated go-to gin.

 

For more information, visit https://dingledistillery.ie/gin/ 

 

9) Boatyard Gin

 

Next on our list is Boatyard Gin, which is produced by The Boatyard Distillery on the banks of Lough Erne in north-west Ireland. Though it is a newer product, Boatyard’s founder Joe McGirr certainly doesn’t lack expertise in the distilling business, having previously worked for Moet Hennessy and The London Distillery Company, among others. Boatyard Gin is produced using all-organic botanicals, and the end product features notes of lemon peel, sweet gale, orris, and liquorice.

 

For more information, visit https://boatyarddistillery.com/

 

10) Glendalough Distillery

Glendalough Distillery takes a rustic, artisan approach to distilling their gin products by hand-foraging wild plants from the mountains around the distillery to infuse into the gin. No, we’re serious. The plants are gathered by one person, by hand, on each day the company distils and added to the sill within hours of collection. The company produces a variety of gins, ensuring there’s something for everyone. Their base gin product is smooth and pleasing, though for those looking for a twist they also produce several variants including a line of seasonal gins which feature unique botanicals to represent each of the four seasons.

 

For more information, visit https://www.glendaloughdistillery.com

 

11) St. Patrick’s Distillery

 

 

St. Patrick’s Distillery produces a selection of award-winning gins, from a traditional extra-dry gin to a honey-tempered sloe gin. Something noteworthy is that all St Patrick’s Distillery gins are produced using potatoes, as opposed to the more common grain-based gins. This not only results in lower sugar content but makes their gins naturally gluten-free as well. We suggest trying the Elderflower Gin, which has pleasant herbal notes that mix well in a variety of cocktails.

 

For more information, visit https://stpatricksdistillery.ie

 

12) Blackwater Distillery

 

 

Blackwater Distillery prides itself as the first craft gin distillery in Ireland. The Waterford-based distillery offers three gin products, a classic dry gin, a juniper cask gin, and a fruity, strawberry pink gin. Blackwater Distillery prides itself on their small batches and old-time gin craftsmanship, and one sip of their gin will confirm that the company certainly prioritizes quality over quantity. What’s more, the distillery recently signed a three million euros deal with Aldi to produce the supermarket’s Boyle’s Gin, so it’s safe to say you’ll be seeing Blackwater Distillery products around.

 

For more information, visit http://blackwaterdistillery.ie 

 

13) Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin

Last, but certainly not least, on our list is Drunshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin, which is produced by The Shed Distillery in Co. Leitrim. The distillery seeks to “fuse oriental botanicals with local Irish ones”, and the resulting gin strikes the perfect balance between spicy and fruity. This gin is carefully hand-distilled in small copper stills and the resulting product is an elevated gin that is versatile without being boring.

 

For more information, visit https://drumshanbogunpowderirishgin.com/