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Aldi Ireland: Gin and whiskey in retail

Aldi Ireland has several top products in its spirit range: Boyle’s Gin from the Blackwater Distillery and Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery, in addition, Mo Chara Passionfruit & Mango Gin from the Old Carrick Mill.

The Blackwater Distillery has been an Aldi partner since 2016 and developed the private label Boyle’s Gin exclusively for the Irish and British retail market. The product volume of the Blackwater Distillery for Aldi has risen strongly in recent years, whereby 140,800 bottles of the gin series were sold in 2018. The successful gin brand is manufactured in Blackwater Valley, West Waterford, with selected imported ingredients as well as regional apples, blackcurrants and elderflower. CEO Peter Mulryan – former TV producer and author of the book ‘The Whiskeys of Ireland’ – explains, “The partnership with Aldi has helped us to increase turnover enormously, and also to have the security to invest and expand. This includes on-site bottling facilities and a visitor centre.” Ardfallen Whiskey from the West Cork Distillery got its name from the region in County Cork where the malted barley comes from, and is only manufactured in small batches. The business was founded in 2003 by childhood friends who started out with only two small stills they had bought in Switzerland. Now the largest distillery in the country, it currently employs over 80 staff and exports to around 70 countries.

At the World Spirits Award, there was Gold for Ardfallen 10 Year Old Whiskey and Boyle’s Gin, and Silver for Boyle’s Sloe & Damson Gin and Ardfallen Whiskey.

BillionBars: From a bartender to a drinks developer

Robert Pölzl is one of the best-known bartenders in Austria, the bar is his world and his vocation. Travelling around the world, he entertains, advises and serves, sometimes shaking and sometimes stirring. He transforms classic drinks into new creations using modern methods and flavours. Because for him the possibilities of working with drinks and spirits is endless, he chose the name BillionBars. For people looking for a bar concept and innovative drinks, they are definitely in the right hands with Pölzl. His aim is to identify what the customer wants and needs.

He himself has already sampled and mixed hundreds of gins, and has now developed his own creation. According to the motto: Small Batch, Big Taste, Great Gin. As a bartender, he has made it his task to keep conjuring new drink experiences into the glasses of guests. For his own gin he perfected the various botanicals. In his words: “Eye – nose – palate”.

With the master distiller Patrick Marchl, he found the missing building block for realising his vision. The high quality standards are reflected in the choice of exclusively organic botanicals. Distilling was undertaken by Rick Gin in Styria, with traditional ingredients such as juniper berries, complex pepper aromas and fine lemon and cardamon, creatively rounded off with a fine hint of truffle. The New Western Style category was therefore the right platform for reinterpreting creativity and the courage to ‘be different’.

At the World Spirits Award, bronze was awarded to BillionBars Trüffel Dry Gin.

95 WOB-Punkte - Broker's Gin - Gold
Broker's Gin Limited London, AT-1190 Wien, www.topspirit.at
Fragrance: Classic aroma, juniper berries, a lot of citrus-orange freshness, a lot of ethereal oils, peely spiciness, fresh herbs. Taste: Intense juniper aroma, fresh citrus and orange notes, meadow herbs, mint, cinnamon, anise, coriander, somewhat floral touch, nice fruit sweetness, full-bodied, powerful, very long on the palate. Inhalt: 700 ml, Preis: 14,99 EUR