Gin: ‘It’s not just a drink, it’s an occasion in itself’

"Our product is different. It is infused with heather. Heather was used in drinks a long time ago before hops was used for beer. We created a really good gin. Something specifically Irish. That's where the heather comes in. It's really well received when we go abroad to America and Asia where they are not familiar with heather. When they taste it, they find it quite new and different and we get a great response."

The market has changed dramatically over the years. “When I was 18, I was advised not to drink gin because it makes you sad. Everything has changed. It’s a bit like the coffee experience and wine. People like to talk about what went into their gin. You can compare it to coffee which used to be powder that came in a jar. There is also the sense of occasion. The goblet glass. Have a really good gin and a really good tonic. It’s not just a drink, it’s an occasion in itself.”

The gin is made with 14 aromatic botanicals sourced from the west of Ireland. "When you produce a gin it's a bit like a painting," says Cope. "The more colours in the palette the better the painting."